LONDON, Dec 24: Negotiations for the heavyweight showdown between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson are making progress, both camps have said, but they are not yet close to an agreement.

The Press Association (PA) said that the two camps must reach agreement on the terms of the fight, tentatively scheduled for April 6, by Jan 8 or face the bout’s promotion being thrown open to the highest bidder.

That could open the door for controversial promoter Don King to muscle in on the action.

World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman said: “The WBC ratifies Mike Tyson as the official challenger for heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis.

“The period for free negotiations for the fight ends on Jan 8, and if no agreement is reached, a public purse offer will be held on Jan 24 at noon in the WBC Executive Offices in Mexico City.”

King has already tried to entice Tyson away from a showdown with Lewis by offering him over 10 million dollars to take on WBA champion John Ruiz, PA said.

“I am a believer that Lennox Lewis is the baddest man on the planet,” King told the Las Vegas Journal. “He’s punching sharp and clean and hitting harder than ever.

“For Tyson to go into the ring with him now would be a kamikaze move. Mike Tyson don’t need to do no kamikaze.

“He can fight some of these guys, make millions and millions of dollars, get a title and then hit the jackpot against Lennox. Then he will be more prepared for him.”—AFP