Canadian lined up as Lewis opponent
Canadian Kirk Johnson is being lined up as Lennox Lewis’ next world heavyweight title challenger on June 21.
Johnson’s camp say they are on the verge of agreeing a deal to meet Lewis, probably in Buffalo close to the Canadian border.
Mike Tyson is likely to appear on the undercard in another tune-up fight prior to a projected re-match with Lewis.
Johnson’s co-manager Ken Lilien told Canada’s Daily News: “It’s as close as it could be without being signed.”
A Lewis-Johnson fight would be a big deal for the Canadians who cheered Lewis to Olympic super-heavyweight success in 1988.
The two camps met this weekend and hope to finalise a deal by the end of the week.
Lewis’ camp are also still talking to representatives of Vitali Klitschko but are split on the subject of purse demands.
The World Boxing Council have given Lewis an April 15 deadline to agree to fight either Klitschko or Tyson in his next defence, otherwise he could be stripped of his title.
But Lewis would still retain his International Boxing Organisation version of the title and universal recognition as the undisputed heavyweight king.
