King’s Plans for Rahman Include Lewis and Tyson

Having entranced and enthralled the people of China, world traveler Don King came home Wednesday bearing gifts--a lucrative offer for Lennox Lewis and an olive branch for Mike Tyson.

King, who lured heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman away from promoter Cedric Kushner earlier this month, said he wants to either put Rahman in the ring with Lewis or put together a heavyweight tournament involving Rahman--the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation champion--Lewis, Tyson and the winner of an Aug. 4 title match in Beijing between World Boxing Assn. titleholder John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield.

King, who spoke while changing planes at LAX Wednesday, is currently staging such a tournament in the middleweight division to crown an undisputed champion.

King’s proposals are at odds with the agreement he reached with Rahman before leaving with Holyfield and Ruiz on an eight-day China tour. King gave Rahman a $75-million package consisting of a $5-million signing bonus, $5 million to fight Brian Nielsen of Denmark on the Aug. 4 card (a fight Rahman should win easily), $15 million to face the winner of Holyfield-Ruiz, $20 million for a Lewis fight and $30 million for a Tyson fight.

Why the decision to go directly to Lewis, who was knocked out by Rahman last month in South Africa, immediately after the Nielsen fight?

Perhaps it has something to do with legal action taken in King’s absence. A June 11 trial date has been set in U.S. District Court in New York by Judge Miriam Cedarbaum on separate lawsuits filed by Lewis and Kushner. Lewis is suing to enforce a rematch clause in his contract with Rahman. Kushner is suing over the validity of his contract with Rahman.

“People can say what they want to say,” King said. “The fact is, Hasim Rahman is ready, willing and able to fight Lennox Lewis. Just because he signed with me, don’t change the subject. I want him to fight and he is ready to fight.

“Let’s sit down and talk rather than setting up smoke screens.”

Gary Shaw, Lewis’ promoter, declined comment on King’s offer.

Switching to Lewis might satisfy the former champion, but it certainly won’t placate Kushner, who says he is confident his contract will be upheld in court.

And what of Tyson? He has vowed for several years he will never fight on a card promoted by King, who, Tyson claims, stole money from him when King was his promoter.

“I would put on a Mike Tyson fight in a heartbeat,” King said. “I have no problem with Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson thinks he has a problem with me because somebody whispered that in his ear.”