Boxing: Boxing far too clever

DON'T look now but Lennox Lewis is about to become the first Briton this century with a claim to the world heavyweight championship.

For the benefit of any readers who have been living in caves lately without the benefit of television and daily news delivery, perhaps it should be explained that nothing more is being required of Lewis tonight than the grooming necessary for an appearance at a charity dinner in London. For the second time in history, Ken Norton being the only other champion by default, it is accession without action.

Doubtless this will excite some of the popular prints, bring about a fresh outburst of sporting jingoism, confuse the public and give the impression that Lewis is no less of a name elsewhere in the world than he now is in the country of his birth.

The truth for all but the most myopic of patriots is that the real title is held by an extremely large and able boxer who first saw the light of day in Brooklyn, New York, and has recently been getting almost as much exposure on American television as the President-elect. I refer of course to Riddick Bowe, who, having defeated Evander Holyfield last November, was the undisputed champion until Rock Newman, his volatile manager, decided that there was no advantage in honouring an agreement with the WBC to defend first against Lewis, who unquestionably is the most dangerous opponent out there.

The safest bet you could make then was that the WBC would install Lewis as champion (it became a certainty when Bowe insultingly tossed the belt into a waste bin), and Jose Sulaiman, its enthusiastically pragmatic president, would give up his valuable time, enduring the immense hardship of flying to London by Concorde for a presentation ceremony.

Sulaiman is comfortably installed. Lewis will get the belt. And Bowe goes about the business of preparing for a conveniently cushy defence next month against Michael Dokes, a dishevelled has-been who will raise a great deal of astonishment if he survives more than a few rounds.

The point is that what started out as an immense opportunity for Lewis is in danger of becoming one of those tales to encourage the idea that in professional boxing only the ring can safely be thought square.

From time to time, usually to suit Don King, the American promoter who is friendly with Sulaiman, the WBC comes up with arrangements that justify the cynicism evident in many veteran observers of the sport. I have in mind the contest against Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock last October that established Lewis as a leading light in the division and officially the WBC's leading contender. An understandable suspicion is that the WBC mistakenly assumed a victory for Ruddock, who has a promotional link with King.

Further to this, the WBC has not yet released Lewis from an obligation immediately to make a mandatory defence of its title against Tony Tucker, a durable heavyweight who has lost only to Mike Tyson in more than 50 professional bouts.

Hence, the big question is where does Lewis go from here? There are some facts worth adding. A few days ago Frank Maloney, the Londoner who has gained more prominence as Lewis's manager than he could ever have imagined, returned from New York having failed to conclude a deal with Home Box Office, the American cable television network, apparently on the grounds that his man was being short-changed.

It sounds as though Maloney, in seeking parity with Bowe, is playing a dangerous game, especially in view of his willingness to consider overtures from Showtime, a company in association with King.

In spite of all the crisp editorialising that presses a case for Lewis, it is naive of him and Maloney to suppose that principles have any currency in boxing.

It is also clear that a man can rule in the public eye as heavyweight champion without the authority of every self-serving organisation. This applies as much to Bowe as it did to Larry Holmes, emphasising the need for Lewis to get more international exposure.

More will be learned today and it is probable that Maloney will argue for the mandatory defence against Tucker to be held in London after a contest against Alex Stewart in March or April.

That isn't quite where Lewis thought he was headed. As for principles, since when did they apply in boxing.