BOXING: World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis should find out within two weeks whether his planned fight with Mike Tyson will take place in Washington DC in June.
Tyson was yesterday handed a licence to box in the US capital by the three-man Washington Boxing and Wrestling Commission, which opens the door for a June 8th fight at the MCI Center, home of the city's NBA team.
Lewis' US promoters Main Events confirmed they were in negotiations to hold the bout in Washington, but admitted a final decision had yet to be made.
Main Events spokesman Donald Tremblay revealed the process of approving the fight only began after Tyson was granted his licence.
"The process is just beginning," Tremblay said. "What we are going to be doing is looking into the feasibility of it. We expect it to be concluded in a couple of weeks.
"We are looking at the MCI Center which is the home of the Washington Wizards.
"Right now there may be other venues in the frame but I am not aware of them."
Main Events chief operating officer Gary Shaw added: "Now that the District of Columbia has given Mike Tyson a licence to box, Main Events will start working on the feasibility of promoting a bout in Washington DC."
The future of the fight had looked in doubt after Nevada officials refused Tyson a licence to box in Las Vegas.
After protracted negotiations, both camps had agreed on a Las Vegas bout in April, but that plan was scuppered when a press conference brawl prompted Nevada boxing chiefs to turn down Tyson's licence application.
But, after Georgia briefly entered the bidding for the lucrative bout, the 20,000-capacity MCI Center looks the likely venue.
Michael Brown, vice-president of the Washington Boxing and Wrestling Commission, admitted the economic benefits of staging the fight far outweighed any possible ethical questions.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The ethics were one of the things we took into consideration, but the economic considerations outweighed them."
Brown claimed he is "pretty confident" the city will host the bout, with June 8th put forward as a likely date.
He added: "What we've done is take the first big step. I would hate to say it's not certain or it is certain. Mr Tyson is just one part of it - Mr Lewis has to apply.
"September 11th has changed a lot of things for us in the United States. The hospitality industry has all been down and this would be a boost for our economy and we're all for it.
"It was an opportunity to get the ball rolling. I am pretty confident it will happen in Washington DC. I think June 8th is one of the tentative dates but it has not been confirmed because that has to be discussed by the committee."
TENNIS: US-based Nick Malone continues to nudge the Irish selectors for a debut Davis Cup appearance, writes Pat Roche. The final-year student at Brown University, who is from Greystones, would seem to have done enough at this stage to qualify for Ireland's team against Armenia in the opening round.
Malone returned to his university as holder of the National Indoor Open, and has since made a significant impact as co-captain at Brown. Recently he lifted the "A" flight senior singles title without dropping a set in the Harvard Winter Invitational event that marks the beginning of the collegiate spring season.
He caused something of an upset by beating the number one-seed Jonathan Chu of Harvard 7-6 6-2. Chu is ranked at 47, and rising, in the US.
The signs look bright for Malone with Ireland's non-playing captain Peter Wright reported to be monitoring his form through talks with Brown coach Jon Choboy.
Wright, head coach at the University of California, anticipates permission to bring a five-strong team to Armenia.
Pete Clarke, the automatic choice to lead Ireland's team in the Davis Cup, is currently meeting with suitable success in Australian tournaments. Last week he accounted for Joachim Johannson, the young Swede formerly ranked second best junior in the world.
Ireland's full-time Fed Cup players Elsa O'Riain (Cork) and Claire Curran (Belfast) travel this weekend to compete for a month on the Australian grass court circuit ahead of the qualifiers in Pretoria in April.
FORMULA ONE: British driver Jenson Button has been told that he could return to his former team Williams for the 2003 season.
Team chief Frank Williams has said that if Button's performances for Formula One rivals Renault this season were better than his line-up of Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya then he would be in contention.
"Jenson knows he has to get better this year but in testing he is looking very good at the moment," said Williams, who gave Button his grand prix break in 2000.
"If he is better than the two drivers we have then he would be in the frame for 2003, but it is much too early to try and guess what will be happening next year.
"We have a vested interest in Jenson and he is still held in the highest regard with this team."
Button scored 12 points in his maiden campaign with British team Williams but was then loaned out to Renault - formerly Benetton - for two years because of Williams' contractual obligations to Colombian Montoya.
The 22-year-old Button had a difficult season in an uncompetitive Benetton last year, but Renault are expected to be battling higher up the grid on their full return to Formula One.
Williams has options on Button, Schumacher and Montoya for the 2003 campaign as well as young test driver Antonio Pizzonia of Brazil.
Williams finished third in the manufacturers' championship behind Ferrari and McLaren last year and Williams himself is expecting another tough contest this season which begins in Melbourne, on Sunday week.
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