Lennox Lewis Hears Faint Peal of Wedding Bells

ACCRA - World heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis says he is thinking of marriage after watching a friend's traditional African engagement.

But at 37 he is not yet quite ready to ring the bell on the end of bachelorhood.

Lewis has been in the West African country of Ghana, with promoter Don King, to attend the colorful engagement ceremony of Ghanaian friend Prince Osei-Poku.

"It definitely gives me ideas about getting married," he told Reuters late on Monday. But asked about likely candidates he said only that his girlfriend's name was Violet -- the same as his mother's.

"She's a very nice girl. She's got a great name, a lovely name and she's perfect for me," he said.

Lewis has been linked to Violet Chang, runner-up in this year's Miss Jamaica Universe competition and winner of its prize for best hair.

Rivals have taunted Lewis because he is still single.

Asked when wedding bells might ring, Lewis said "not this soon, but everything is happy and merry."

Lewis crushed former champion Mike Tyson in June to defend his WBC and IBF belts and cement his position among boxing's greats.

He said that while he had been in Ghana he had looked at the possibility of investing in a clothing factory. He also planned to set up clubs where children could play chess -- another of his passions.