Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis will defend his World Boxing Council title against American Shannon Briggs on March 28.

A spokesman for Lewis' US-based promotional company, Donald Tremblay, said the bout was set to take place in Atlantic City and would be televised by HBO.

Last month, Lewis agreed to fight WBA and IBF champion Evander Holyfield for the undisputed world title but the contest foundered on money problems.

Lewis, a Briton who fought for Canada as an amateur, soundly beat Polish-born Andrew Golota in the first round of a title defense in early October in his last fight.

With a 32-1 professional record, Lewis is also facing a mandatory defence of his WBC title against European champion Zeljko Mavrovic of Croatia in London in June.

Briggs: disputed win over Foreman

Briggs, 26, beat two-time former champion George Foreman on a controversial majority decision on November 22, ending Foreman's career.

The victory over Foreman improved the New Yorker's record to 30-1.

Elsewhere in the Heavyweight world - Evander Holyfield - the man who Lewis's manager Frank Maloney says is scared to fight - has forgiven the former world champion, Mike Tyson for the now imfamous ear-biting incident. In Hamburg, Germany the fighter said he could not rule out a re-match against Iron-Mike.
 

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