Mike Tyson will definitely make his British debut on 29 January 2000, promoter Frank Warren has confirmed.

Reigning British and Commonwealth champion Julius Francis is the favourite to take on the troubled American fighter, but Tyson's opponent will not be formally announced until next Tuesday.

No contest

A spokesman for Warren's Sports Network organisation said: "The MEN Arena is definite, the date is definite, Mike Tyson is definite."

Rumours that Tyson's first fight since his controversial no-contest with Orlin Norris in Las Vegas last October began to filter out of the US on Thursday morning.

The fight will also be the former world heavyweight champion's first outside the States since 1990, when he lost to Buster Douglas in Japan.

Tyson has fought only twice this year, stopping Frans Botha of South Africa in the fifth round of an otherwise undistinguished performance on January 16.

October's fight with Norris was ruled a no-contest when Tyson hit his opponent after the bell and Norris dislocated his knee as he crashed to the canvas.

The British fight will be promoted by Warren and Dan Goossen's America Presents organisation