The Philippine government has launched a never-say-die bid to host a title match between controversial challenger Mike Tyson and reigning world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, Manila's tourism secretary said on Sunday.
The fight was due to take place in Las Vegas on April 6 but was postponed after Tyson was refused a license for instigating a brawl in a pre-fight news conference.
Tourism secretary Richard Gordon said that he has instructed the Philippine tourism coordinator in the US to make a very big attempt, a never-say-die attempt to get this bout in the Philippines.
He said “The fight could help improve the Philippines' image abroad, which has been knocked by perceptions of political instability and a barrage of kidnappings by Muslim Abu Sayyaf gunmen allied with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
The Philippines, he noted, was no stranger to staging world title fights. In 1975, the government hosted the Thrilla in Manila between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, considered by boxing Afficionados as among the best fights in boxing history.
“We had Thrilla in Manila and hopefully this fight will focus the cameras of the world towards a peaceful Philippines, a sports-minded Philippines,” Gordon said over ‘Abs-Cbn Television’.
Gordon acknowledged that hosting the match could be costly, but added that he has spoken with local businessmen and promoters who have agreed to bankroll the bid. Bureau Report