Klitschko Is Lewis’ Latest Opponent

So now, it’s back to Square One.

Or, actually, back to Square Two.

The on-again, off-again, canceled, resurrected, rearranged, postponed heavyweight title defense by Lennox Lewis at Staples Center is on again. Lewis will defend his World Boxing Council title, and the championship of the obscure International Boxing Organization, against top contender Vitali Klitschko on June 21. Klitschko had been Lewis’ first choice after Mike Tyson backed out but dropped out himself last month when negotiations collapsed, handing the opportunity to Kirk Johnson.

But now it’s absolutely, positively, without question Lewis-Klitschko, barring another injury, another temper tantrum, another lawsuit or another contract snag.

Staples Center President Tim Leiweke, who had originally offered a site fee of $8 million and then lowered it to $3.4 million when Tyson dropped out, is now offering nothing but the building. Leiweke is taking the unprecedented step of making Staples Center available to promoter Gary Shaw for free, with rent to be paid only if the gate reaches specified levels.

Klitschko stepped back in after Johnson was forced to drop out because of a partially torn chest muscle, suffered in a sparring session.

When Johnson’s condition was diagnosed Friday afternoon, whirlwind, around-the-clock negotiations ensued through the weekend, led by Shaw.

The fight will be on HBO, and Lewis will receive about $5 million, plus a percentage of television and gate money, which could pump up his earnings to about $8 million. Klitschko’s money, which will come mostly from television revenue, is expected to be about $3 million.

Was it only a few months ago that Lewis was planning to defend his title in a rematch against Tyson?

Since then:

* Tyson insisted he wasn’t ready for a second fight against the man who knocked him out a year ago but agreed to fight in the semi-main event against Oleg Maskaev.

* After Lewis turned to Klitschko, that fight fell apart when the two sides couldn’t agree on international broadcast rights. Being the third option didn’t bother Johnson.

* Tyson failed to show up at the news conference to announce the fight, refused to even talk with his own handlers and was replaced in the semi-main by Klitschko, who agreed to fight Cedric Boswell.

“I knew that if we hung around long enough, we would get a great fight,” Leiweke said. “Clearly, Lewis-Klitschko is a fight that can sell. But can it be sold in 11 days? I guess time will tell.”

Leiweke estimates at least 10,000 seats, about half of capacity, will be sold.

“[Kirk] Johnson was a zero in terms of selling tickets,” said a source involved in the promotion. “This is a much better deal.”

Still to be determined is compensation for Boswell, who has a contract to fight Klitschko.

Lewis and Klitschko had been operating under the assumption both would win their bouts June 21 at Staples and would then meet in a pay-per-view match, tentatively set for December.

HBO Vice President Mark Taffet insists his network is not upset the pay-per-view show has been moved to cable.

“When you have an opportunity to catch lightning in a bottle, you grab it,” Taffet said.

What caused that lightning to flash across the boxing landscape?

For Lewis, one factor was his desire to get back into the ring. Had he waited until December, it would have meant 18 months of inactivity. That would have left him dangerously rusty. Also, at 37, he has only a limited number of paydays left and can’t afford to pass up one.

Another factor for all concerned is the man who has suddenly tossed his name into the ring: Roy Jones.

Jones, who jumped from light-heavyweight to win the World Boxing Assn. heavyweight title from John Ruiz earlier this year, was expected to fight Evander Holyfield. But with negotiations between Jones and Holyfield stalled, Jones, through intermediaries, has expressed interest in fighting Lewis in the fall.

Jones is notorious for backing out of fights as abruptly as he jumps in. And skeptics question whether he would step into the ring with Lewis, a considerably bigger man.

But Jones would bring with him financial riches Lewis isn’t about to turn down. Klitschko figures that if he can pull off a major upset and beat Lewis, Jones might come to him.

And if Lewis-Jones were to happen in December, HBO would wind up with a much more attractive pay-per-view show than it would have had with Lewis-Klitschko.

Everybody involved has much to gain from Lewis-Klitschko happening now. So it’s not surprising that it was put together in record time over one intense weekend.

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Fight Facts

*--* * When: June 21 * Heavyweight main event: 12 rounds * Who: Lennox Lewis (40-2-1, 31 knockouts) vs. Vitali Klitschko (32-1, 31 knockouts) * Where: Staples Center * TV: HBO * Tickets: (213) 480-3232

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