World heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis will fight for the first time in more than a year in Los Angeles on June 21 against Canadian Kirk Johnson, but controversial rival Mike Tyson has yet to agree to appear on the undercard.
Promoter Gary Shaw said he was "cautiously optimistic" that Tyson would agree to fight on the card. If so, his opponent is expected to be Russian Oleg Maskaev.
Lewis is widely accepted to be the heavyweight champion after his eight round demolition of Tyson last year although boxing politics means there are several versions of the title held by different fighters.
The World Boxing Council may not sanction the fight with Johnson due to objections from German-based Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko who believes he should be Lewis' opponent.
"In my mind right now Lewis is the king and I'm fighting for that great title which is the undisputed championship of the world," Johnson told reporters at a news conference here.
Johnson, 30, from Nova Scotia, will be regarded as a long shot to defeat 37-year-old Lewis but his promoter Dino Duva was clearly stung by an article in the Los Angeles Times, which described his fighter as a "shirt board."
"His name isn't shirt board its Kirk Johnson. Kirk Johnson and Lennox Lewis are the two best heavyweights in the world and I think you should give them that credit," Duva said.
There has been speculation that Lewis, who now has few serious rivals, may soon decide to retire.
TOOK, 'NOBODY TO BOX'
Lewis said he had "taken a rest" after the Tyson fight in June 2002 as there was "nobody to box." He, however, played down talk about an imminent retirement.
"I'm looking at the Kirk Johnson fight right now and whatever comes after that I'm definitely open to," he said.
American Roy Jones, who holds the World Boxing Association version of the title, has been suggested as one possible future opponent for Lewis but he downplayed the possibility the two could meet.
"I think Roy Jones is a phenomenal fighter. I love seeing that type of boxing but Roy Jones knows I'm the best there is ... As far as him fighting me, I don't think he will make that mistake," Lewis said.
Lewis appeared more open to another fight with Tyson, noting some of the controversial American's hard line fans believed the British fighter could be beaten in a rematch.
"I'm very open to prove that wrong," Lewis said.
Johnson and Lewis both learned their craft in Canada and boxed for that country in the Olympics.
"I think it would have been a great fight for Canada," Lewis said, saying he didn't understand why it could not have been held north of the border.
Promoters have not disclosed the size of the purse for the fight and Lewis showed little interest when questioned about his potential earnings.
"I don't really think about money anymore," Lewis said.
Los Angeles last hosted a world heavyweight title fight 34 years ago when Floyd Patterson successfully defended his crown against Roy Harris.
