Lewis honoured, though not yet Sir Lennox

Heavyweight boxer Lennox Lewis added another prize to his two championship belts on Friday, becoming a Commander in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in a ceremony at Britain's Buckingham Palace.

Prince Charles awarded the title to the towering British boxer, who demolished America's Mike Tyson in their championship bout in Memphis last month.

Snappily dressed in a formal black tailcoat, dark grey striped trousers and bow tie, his dreadlocks streaming down from under a top hat, Lewis posed for photographers holding his new medal alongside to a bemused "Beefeater" guard.

The new title is just one step below a knighthood, which would have turned Lewis into Sir Lennox.

After defeating Tyson, the boxer declared his reputation cemented and mission completed, but at the age of 36 has yet to say conclusively whether he plans to retire.