Ex-super middleweight might retire

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MONTREAL -- At more than 30 pounds over his fighting weight, Eric Lucas looked better suited for the business world than the boxing ring.

The former World Boxing Council super-middleweight champion announced Monday he has made an offer to buy InterBox, the company that promotes his fights, out of bankruptcy protection.

He will wait to see if the deal goes through before announcing whether he will retire from the ring.

"The lawyers went over everything from A to Z and everything seemed good," said Lucas, 33. "That's when I decided to go ahead."

Neither Lucas nor InterBox owner Hans-Karl Muehlegg would say how much was offered for the company, which also promotes and manages lightweight star Leonard Dorin and promotes former middleweight champ Otis Grant.

InterBox, which filed for protection from its creditors on March 19, owes $1.2 million to a long list of companies and individuals, including Lucas, who has yet to be paid $100,000 from a six-round loss to Danny Green on Dec. 20.

Muehlegg, who founded the company in 1998, said creditors would vote on the offer after a three-week delay in which other bids may be made.

"But any other bona fide offers are very unlikely at this late stage," he said. "If accepted, Eric will become the sole owner of InterBox.

"If it happens, I'll be very happy. I think he has the stuff to take over InterBox and further its development."

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press

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