Wharton on the warpath

The former undefeated European super-middleweight champion may take his next step up in the light-heavyweight class back to America on the Red Indian reservation of Uncasville, in Connecticut.

The reservation's Mohican Sun Casino has won the purse rights to stage the next defence by Britain's world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis against Croatia's Zeljko Mavrovic on September 26.

Wharton is expected to return to competitive action on that date in the second of his promotional tie-ups with Frank Maloney, who is Lewis' promoter-manager.

And just as he was in Atlantic City at Lewis' stoppage of Shannon Briggs six months ago, Wharton could be one of the Brit-pack battlers on the undercard of the Connecticut collision.

Said Wharton's trainer Gary Atkin: "Nothing has been signed or sealed yet, but Henry has always been pencilled in for a retrain to the ring on the same night of the next Lewis fight.

"It could mean us returning to the States to fight at the Mohican Sun Casino, or it may mean that we headline the British half of the double at a venue yet to be decided."

If Wharton does not make a second Atlantic crossing, then the British half of the Anglo-American extravaganza may even by staged at York's Barbican Centre, admitted Atkin.

Wharton, meanwhile, is expected to return to full training next week after being hampered by a knuckle injury first sustained on his American debut last March when he impressively stopped South Carolina's Franklin Edmondson over eight rounds in his baptism as a light-heavyweight.

The Mohican Sun Casino put up $1 million to beat off the challenge of Atlantic City and win the right to stage Lewis' defence of his World Boxing Council crown against Croatian Mavrovic, who, coincidentally, sports a Mohican haircut.

A special 7,000-capacity pavilion is being built for Lewis' mandatory defence as the existing "wigwam" at Uncasville can hold only 1,500 spectators.

Said Maloney: "It's the first time the Mohican Sun has staged a major fight.

"They are showing a lot of interest in Lennox and would like to make him a regular attraction there. That's why this new pavilion is being built. If everything is a success, they will be looking to increase its size for future fights."

Lewis will be returning to his training camp 9,000ft up at Big Bear, California, opting for the altitude headquarters instead of a base on the east coast of America.

Maloney added: "I know Lennox is taking it seriously by going back to Big Bear. Everyone thought he was going to train on the east coast. When he goes to Big Bear you know that is really taking a fight seriously. He's in a very good frame of mind and up for the fight."

Lewis will earn between £2-million against the £1million of the former unbeaten European heavyweight champion, who is based in Germany but trained by Londoner Darkie Smith.

He would, of course, swamp that purse with a clash against Mike Tyson, who can now re-apply for his licence from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Tyson's licence was revoked on July 9 last year following his ear-biting disgrace against Evander Holyfield. It is believed that the re-application will not take place until early next week.

Meanwhile, Sheffield's Herol Graham, the third Brit with Wharton and Lewis on duty in Atlantic City, where he lost his challenge to International Boxing Federation super-middleweight champion Charles Brewer, is lined up for an autumn tilt at the British title.

Six years after his last domestic championship action, the 38-year-old Graham, has been nominated by the Boxing Board of Control to challenge Basingstoke's super-middleweight champion Dean Francis - also the European title holder - by October 31.

Graham lost his British middleweight crown to Frank Grant at Elland Road in September, 1992, and then spent four years out of boxing before making a remarkable return towards a third challenge for a world title.

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