Promoter Butch Lewis is going to try...

Promoter Butch Lewis is going to try to withdraw Michael Spinks from the $30-million HBO heavyweight championship unification series, according to Don King, Lewis’ partner in the series.

The reasons, however, are unclear. South Africa’s apartheid policy will be the reason given by Lewis for leaving the tournament, King said. Spinks could end up fighting for the undisputed title against the champion of the HBO series, which recognizes South Africa.

“I know why he’s trying to get out of it,” King said. “He don’t want to fight Mike Tyson. In the back of his (Spinks’) mind is a fight with Gerry Cooney without sharing with me. He’s going to cloak his reason in apartheid. He got all his little fights in first and got his money. Now he’s trying to get out on a moral issue.”