Holyfield-Lewis Set For March 13

The highly anticipated heavyweight title unification bout between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis finally is a reality.

The champions have agreed to meet March 13 at Madison Square Garden in New York. TVKO boxing executive Ray Stallone said Tuesday that a news conference revealing details of the bout is scheduled for Monday at the Garden.

The fight will be televised by TVKO, the pay-per-view arm of HBO. The cable network has a multi-fight deal with Lewis, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion who will be trying to take the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation belts from Holyfield.

There has not been undisputed heavyweight champion since Riddick Bowe defeated Holyfield on Nov. 13, 1992 and literally dropped the WBC championship belt in a garbage can several days later, rescinding the crown. The three titles have been split ever since.

Expected to attemd Monday's newsconference are Holyfield (36-3, 25 KOs) and Lewis (34-1, 27 KOs), along with Holyfield promoter Don King. The long-rumored fight repeatedly has been derailed by financial and broadcast issues.

The 36-year-old Holyfield has a multifight deal with Showtime and SET, the PPV arm of the cable network. Holyfield's desire to unify the title before retiring may have been enough to force both Showtime and HBO to work out their differences.

Both fighters are coming off lost years in which they posted lackluster victories, somewhat cooling interest in the sport's most high-profile bout.

The showdown will be the 10th heavyweight title fight in the history of the current Garden.

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