Lennox Lewis files suit against Klitschko

LOS ANGELES (AP) Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis sued Vitali Klitschko and the WBC, contending they brokered a deal to force him to defend the title against the Ukrainian boxer.

Lewis filed the suit Tuesday in Superior Court and requested an injunction. The suit comes after Lewis called off the April 12 fight with Klitschko, who filed a suit against the WBC that was later dropped.

``We've taken notice of the Lewis lawsuit, but we don't have any comment on it at the moment,'' said Christoph Rybarczyk, spokesman for Universum, Klitschko's promoter.

Klitschko's suit noted WBC rules that require the heavyweight champion to defend his title at least once a year. Under those rules, Lewis would have to defend his title by June 8.

WBC officials originally argued that Klitschko would have to fight an elimination bout before meeting Lewis. But Lewis' suit said it would be difficult to arrange a fight with Klitschko before the deadline.

``The council has not done anything other than follow its own regulations,'' WBC president Jose Sulaiman told The Associated Press from his home in Mexico City.

The WBA has named Klitschko the No. 1 contender for newly crowned heavyweight champ Roy Jones Jr. Jones also is the WBA light heavyweight super champion and cannot hold both titles at the same time.

He has until April 15 to decide which title to relinquish. If he declines to fight for the heavyweight title, Klitschko would fight someone else for the vacant title.

Lewis might possibly face Mike Tyson in a rematch. Last June, Lewis knocked out Tyson in the eighth round to retain the championship.

``Lennox Lewis has been a source of pride for the council, and has never refused to fight against anybody,'' Sulaiman said. ``We are just advising him of the time limits set down in the regulations, but we have no doubt at all that he will comply.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)