Boxing: Battle for Lewis TV rights hots up
American television's demands are likely to hold the key to Lennox Lewis' African adventure.
If Lewis' cable network paymasters Home Box Office insist on screening his world heavyweight title defence against Hasim Rahman on April 21 live at 11pm New York time, it would produce a dawn first bell in Carnival City.
And that may not be quite such an appealing prospect for the Johannesburg hosts.
That type of schedule would also make it an early-hours live fight for the BBC, who have signed Lewis for this defence with options on future fights.
But should HBO be prepared to screen the bout delayed, a different set of circumstances will apply.
The timing of the bout for United States consumption would appear crucial to the deal being finally done and Lewis following Muhammad Ali into Africa nearly 27 years after his 'Rumble in the Jungle' against George Foreman in Zaire.
The WBC and IBF champion's business manager Adrian Ogun is to jet out to South Africa tomorrow to discuss these major points with South African promoter Rodney Berman, closely-involved in the deal, and other important figures vital to the logistics of the event.
Ogun said: "I'm going out doing a fact-finding mission and bringing the contract and details back to Lennox. I expect to be away for a few days, or as long as it needs for it to be done.
"I will be meeting the relevant people and bringing the information to Lennox. He will make his decision then, based on the contract. The time of the fight will be the subject to negotiation."
It appeared on Thursday night that all barriers had been passed with the announcement from Lewis' London office that the champion's defence was heading for Johannesburg, but obviously there is still some talking to be done.
Berman says: "This would be a major event for Africa and discussions are on-going, but it would be premature to say that an agreement had been reached."
