After Controversial Decision, They Make a Write Move

This just in: Lennox Lewis has been declared the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

And he’s going to get a belt to prove it.

The Boxing Writers Assn. of America is doing more than simply joining the chorus of voices complaining over the draw in last month’s Lewis-Evander Holyfield battle for the undisputed heavyweight title. In an unprecedented move, the BWAA has designed its own heavyweight title belt and will present it to Lewis in New York on Wednesday.

Lewis, World Boxing Council titleholder, appeared to most observers to have won the match in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Holyfield is the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Assn. champion.

“We are trying to give Lennox Lewis something we think he was robbed of in the ring,” said Chris Thorne of the Newark Star-Ledger, president of the BWAA. “So we are going to make him our heavyweight champion.”

Although he didn’t win the official undisputed title that night, Lewis, 33, won something he has been seeking his entire professional career: respect.

Lewis has never been regarded as a bona-fide champion by the general public. His list of opponents, his skill level and his heart were all questioned.

But all those questions seem to have been answered in a fight he didn’t even win.

“It was a frustrating and troubling decision,” Lewis said. “But over time, both the public and the boxing community have rallied behind me and that has made me feel almost as good as winning.”

Lewis said the investigation into the fight launched in New York has also been of some solace to him.

“If having to sacrifice the belt is a catalyst for change,” he said, “so be it.”

Lewis can also take solace in that his future is as bright as it would have been had he been declared the winner over Holyfield.

He will earn at least $15 million in a rematch with Holyfield, which, it appears, will happen in Las Vegas in November.

And it is Lewis, not Holyfield, who now stands atop the heavyweight division in terms of earning power and popularity.

ON THE OTHER HAND . . .

While nearly all of boxing’s most respected figures scored the fight for Lewis, there were two major exceptions.

Colin Hart, an English boxing writer for more than a quarter of a century and a countryman of Lewis, had Holyfield winning. And Dave Anderson, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New York Times, called the fight a draw.

COMING BACK?

WBA bantamweight champion Johnny Tapia, who fought for promoter Bob Arum before jumping to Don King, has been lured back to Arum’s Top Rank organization.

And Tapia already has two fights on his calendar.

He will face Marcello Ackermann in Albuquerque on April 24, then, should he win, Tapia will go on to face Paulie Ayala in Las Vegas on June 26 in a telecast produced by Showtime for its pay-per-view division.

“That is significant to the boxing world,” Arum said, “because it is the first time in years that a promoter other than Don King has a deal with Showtime. King’s hold and monopoly on Showtime is now over.”

Of course, part of the reason is King’s failure to maintain his ties with Showtime. Even though he still has a contract with the cable channel, King got an exemption and went with TVKO, a pay-per-view division of HBO, for Holyfield-Lewis because Lewis has a contract with HBO. Presumably King would have to do the same thing for Holyfield-Lewis II.

And also for a possible Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad fight because, while King promotes Trindidad, De La Hoya is contractually tied to HBO.

COMING TO TERMS

King’s relationship with Arum is far from over. The two are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the possibility of a De La Hoya-Trindad fight in September.

According to Arum, De La Hoya, who will defend his WBC welterweight crown May 22 against Oba Carr at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, would next like to fight, in order of preference: 1--Trinidad; 2--Ike Quartey, whom De La Hoya beat in February; 3--Pernell Whitaker, whom De La Hoya beat in 1997; and 4--Javier Castillejo of Spain, the WBA 154-pound champion.

The most likely slot for Castillejo on De La Hoya’s schedule is his appearance in the new Staples Center, tentatively set for Dec. 11.

HISTORIC STEP

WBA officials, reacting to the outrage over the Lewis-Holyfield decision, have approved open scoring for the organization’s WBA super-bantamweight title fight between champion Nestor Garza (33-1, 27 knockouts) and Carlos Barreto (12-0-1, nine knockouts) at the Las Vegas Hilton on May 8.

The scoring system, which would reveal the judges’ scores after each round, has to be approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission before it takes effect. Marc Ratner, who serves as the commission’s executive director but doesn’t have a vote, has already said he doesn’t think open scoring is a good idea because it could alter the thinking of the involved fighters and others, ranging from the referee to the attending physician.

QUICK JABS

The Garza-Barreto bout will be the semi-main event on a card headed by the WBC super-bantamweight title fight between champion Erik Morales (32-0, 26 knockouts) and Wayne McCullough (22-2, 14 knockouts). . . . Locally, the Marriott in Irvine will host a boxing card on Thursday headlined by an eight-round junior-lightweight match between Naoya Hirahara (11-3-2, seven knockouts) and Israel Corea (5-1, one knockout). First bell is at 7:30 p.m.