Tyson's licence under review

Ex-champ Tyson has been cleared to fight in Georgia

Mike Tyson's proposed fight with Lennox Lewis has hit a new obstacle as Georgia considers rescinding the boxing licence it issued to him on Wednesday.

Georgia's boxing commission will meet to consider its decision to grant Tyson a licence after a plea from the state's governor.

This latest development comes after the state of Texas denied Tyson's application for a licence.

"I have received communication from the governor (Roy Barnes) asking that Mr Tyson's licence as a professional boxer in Georgia be rescinded," Georgia Boxing Commission's Tom Mishou said in a statement on Friday.

Plans for the original bout, scheduled for Las Vegas in April, were scuppered when the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to allow Tyson back into the ring there.

WBC wants Lewis to fight Tyson next

But Georgia's decision to licence the former champion re-opened the possibility of a showdown with Lewis, who holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) belts.

Mishou had earlier said that a date of 8 June was under consideration, with the venue likely to be the Georgia Dome.

The state is not new to heavyweight title fights, as it twice played host to bouts involving Evander Holyfield when he was world champion.

However, if Tyson's licence is rescinded the search will begin for another venue.

Manilla, South Africa, Nigeria and even Beiruit have been suggested as alternatives.

Plans to stage the fight elsewhere in America now look very doubtful, with Texas' denial of a licence and opposition to an application in California.

Los Angeles city controller Laura Chick has already written to the chairman of the California State Athletic Commission asking him to deny Tyson a licence.