Lewis says Tyson must get help before they fight

World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis said on Thursday he would not step into the boxing ring with Mike Tyson unless he had proof the troubled American was receiving help.

Asked on CNN's Larry King Live whether he would fight Tyson, Lewis said: "Well, you know, first of all, you have to realise that Mike Tyson needs some help.

"And I think...he should get the proper help first before he thinks about boxing...because you don't want to step into the ring and all of a sudden it turns into some kind of savage sport.

"That's not what I went into boxing for. I went into boxing for the sport of it, for the sweet science," said Lewis, who holds the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation belts.

"Now, you know, if you're going against the rules and you're trying to punch somebody low, head butt, break somebody's arm, bite somebody, that just brings a different context to boxing," the Briton added.

Earlier this week Nevada state officials refused Tyson a boxing licence, thereby barring his planned April 6 bout with Lewis in Las Vegas. He was rejected in Nevada amid controversy over a brawl he triggered at a New York press conference and the specter of rape charges in Las Vegas.

Tyson's manager Shelly Finkel told Reuters on Thursday that they may try to take the derailed bout to Los Angeles.

"It's possible," said Finkel. "I'm not sure it's our first choice, but it's definitely one of our top choices."

South Africa and Denmark have also expressed interest in the hosting championship fight.

Asked by Larry King if he would have to be shown that Tyson had sought help before getting in the ring with him, Lewis said: "Yes. I mean...I don't want to go into the ring with Mike Tyson if it's not a boxing match.

"If it's just a savage sport where...he's trying to bite me, it doesn't make sense to step into the ring with him.

"I want to be shown that if he's coming into the ring to fight Lennox Lewis...he has to stick to the rules and (not) try and cheat."