LAS VEGAS (Nevada), Nov 19: Lennox Lewis hit the jackpot with one crunching right in Las Vegas Saturday, winning back his World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles, as well as plenty of lost respect and the Mike Tyson sweepstakes.

But while each of these accomplishments hold considerable value, it is in the Briton’s bank account where the shuddering effects of his fourth-round knockout of American Hasim Rahman will be felt most.

Victory by Lewis has now set up what many predict will be the richest bout in boxing history — a long awaited heavyweight showdown with Tyson.

Even before Saturday’s heavyweight rematch, Tyson’s menacing appeal hung over the fight as both camps and promoters openly speculated about what they would do next if they won.

“He is big, Mike Tyson is still big,” explained Emmanuel Steward, Lewis’ trainer. “There are only a few fighters who have had the appeal to go beyond the boxing world — Ali, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson.

“The rest of them, Larry Holmes etc, were good fighters but they were just fighters.—Reuters