BERLIN -- WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis can fight Mike Tyson, as long as that bout is followed by a mandatory defense against Vitali Klitschko.

WBC vice president Ruben Martinez said Saturday that Lewis has until June 30 to fight Tyson, a more lucrative fight than a bout against Klitschko.

"We want to let him have that," Martinez said. "But whoever wins that fight has to box for the title against Vitali Klitschko within 120 days." Lewis pulled out of a proposed April fight against Klitschko, ranked No. 1 by the WBC, in hopes of a rematch against Tyson. He knocked out the Tyson in eight rounds last year.

Klitschko's camp sued, saying it had a contract, but has dropped the suit because of the WBC's latest ruling.

Tyson has not agreed to another fight against Lewis, saying he needs more fights to prepare. But he is bound by a contract signed for the first fight to fight a rematch with the champion.

If Lewis fails to fight Klitschko, the WBC could declare the title vacant and have Klitschko fight the next best contender for the title.

Klitschko, 32-1 with 31 knockouts, is the older brother of Wladimir Klitschko, who lost the WBO title to South Africa's Corrie Sanders three weeks ago.