British heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis has told the promoter for Ukranian challenger Vitali Klitschko that there will not be a rematch between the men for the World Boxing Association title this year.
Speculation had centered around a December 6 date for a rematch, possibly in New York's Madison Square Garden. Lewis beat Klitschko in a controversial bout on June 21 in Los Angeles.
Lewis retained his title in the sixth round when the fight was stopped because of bad cuts around Klitschko's left eye, but was trailing on the scorecards at the time. Klitschko's promoter, Klaus-Peter Kohl, says Lewis told him he would not have time to train for a December fight. The 32-year-old Klitschko was described as angry in response to Lewis' comments.