Return of Tyson puts Lewis bout on agenda

Mike Tyson, still the sport's biggest attraction, will return after his latest break – this time lasting 11 months – on 8 September, possibly against New York's Monte Barrett in a fight that could lead to a long overdue announcement regarding the re-match between Hasim Rahman and Lennox Lewis.

Tyson last fought in October 2000 when Poland's Andrew Golota walked out of the ring. Tyson then failed a routine drug test for marijuana and was suspended for a brief period before the often surreal negotiations for a proposed fight with Lewis started.

The news that Tyson will fight in September and therefore, in theory, be ready for a fight with Lewis by January 2002, was on the agenda when Lewis's personal manager, Adrian Ogun, met with Rahman's promoter, Don King, in Miami yesterday.

Rahman must defend his heavyweight titles against Lewis according to a ruling in a New York court last month and the pair and their respective lawyers, managers and promoters have until today to agree terms for the rematch.

However, the fight Lewis covets most is a meeting with Tyson, a bout that was almost finalised before the Briton's defeat by Rahman in April complicated the situation.