Promoter Don King has offered Lennox Lewis about £8.5 million sterling for a court-ordered rematch against WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman.
"Hasim Rahman is ready to fight Lennox Lewis anywhere, any time," King said.
"We're offering 12.5 million US dollars to Lennox Lewis, which is more money than he got for going in as a champion and getting knocked out. We're ready and willing to work with HBO [which has a contract with Lewis]."
The offer was disclosed at a news conference to promote King's August 5th card in Beijing at which John Ruiz will defend the WBA title against Evander Holyfield.
Rahman, who won the titles by knocking out Lewis in the fifth round in South Africa in April, was supposed to defend his titles against David Izon on the Beijing card.
But a federal judge in New York ruled Rahman must give Lewis a rematch or not fight again for 18 months.
As champion, Rahman believes he should have been able to choose an opponent for his first defence, although he had a rematch clause in his contract for the bout against Lewis.
"I solemnly declare that with one knockout, a second knockout will surely follow," Rahman said.
AP