WORLD Boxing Association welterweight champion Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis will earn approximately $US30,000 more for his upcoming title defence against Ricardo Mayorga.

The purse bid, held in Venezuela on Monday, was won by rival promoter Don King who has sued both Lewis and his promoter Bob Arum and manager for breach of contract.

King bid a purse of US$451,000 which was almost three times the US$152,000 offered by Arum's Top Rank Promotion. As the champion, Lewis will receive 75 percent of the purse which works out to $338,250.

The challenger will receive $112,750. The purses are the highest for both fighters. Lewis became the highest paid Guyanese fighter ever when he received US$304,000 when he first challenged Mayorga in July.

An accidental head butt early in the second round resulted in the fight being declared a no-contest since Lewis sustained a gash over both eyes. Because of the stitches to the cuts (the first of his career), the champion has been ordered to desist from sparring for three months.

A date for the upcoming bout will be announced as soon as Lewis is given the green light by Dr. Wallace of Beverly Hills in California.

Lewis became the first Guyanese to win a world title after a superb exhibition against former champion James Page on February 17 last. The bout was stopped by referee Kenny Bayless in the seventh round. However, the champion could not produce the same goods against Larry Marks in his first defence in April and in the opening round against Mayorga, looked a fraction of the person who won the title in February. Lewis returned home in August for a month's vacation and is expected back in the USA on September 14.