BRIEFLY LEWIS OK WITH GIVING UP IBF TITLE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Lennox Lewis said Thursday he will relinquish one of his heavyweight titles rather than fight mandatory contender Chris Byrd, claiming Byrd offers him no great challenge and that no one wants to see the fight anyway.

The decision to give up the IBF version of the title came as the organization was taking purse bids from promoters for a fight against Byrd.

Lewis' decision might open up the door for Evander Holyfield to fight Byrd and try to become a heavyweight champion for the fifth time at age 40. Byrd is the IBF's top-ranked contender, and Holyfield is No. 2.

Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, said his network was interested in airing a Holyfield-Byrd fight, possibly Dec. 14.

Lewis, who has the WBC crown, likely will fight next against the Ukraine's Vitaly Klitschko next February, according to a source.

Lewis has hinted of retirement since stopping Mike Tyson on June 8, saying there were few challenges among the current group of heavyweights and not enough money to lure him back into the ring.

BASKETBALL: The Orlando Magic, taking a gamble to shore up their thin front line, signed troubled power forward Shawn Kemp to a free-agent contract. Terms were not disclosed.

The six-time All-Star averaged 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds the past two seasons at Portland.

Last month, the 33-year-old agreed to forfeit more than $25 million of the $46.5 million left on his contract with the Blazers, and the team waived him.

--The Miami Heat signed free-agent guard Travis Best, who split last season with Indiana and Chicago.

SOCCER: Cal State Northridge senior Brian Phillips was named to the Soccer America National Team of the week for his performance in the LMU Fall Classic.

The defender, named the tournament's most valuable player, helped Northridge post back-to-back shutouts over Cal and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

WATER POLO: Katherine Slocum was hired as Cal State Northridge's assistant coach. She played for UCLA, where she helped the Bruins win three national titles from 1996-98.

HOCKEY: Jose Theodore, the NHL MVP and Vezina Trophy winner last season, was re-signed by the Montreal Canadiens to a three-year, $16.5 million contract.

--Colorado Avalanche defenseman Martin Skoula, who has played in 244 of 246 games in his first three seasons, signed a three-year deal with the team.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard, the Canadian major junior player of the year last season, was suspended for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens' first seven regular-season games for cross-checking an opponent in the face during an exhibition game Aug. 27.

Bouchard, selected eighth overall by the Minnesota Wild in the June draft, had 46 goals and 94 assists in 69 games last season.

TRACK AND FIELD: Justin Gatlin, who won six NCAA sprint titles as a freshman and sophomore at the University of Tennessee, has signed a sponsorship deal with Nike to start a career in professional track.

MOTOR SPORTS: Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his venture into race-car ownership by setting a track qualifying record of 126.868 mph for the FUNAI 250 NASCAR Busch Grand National race at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia.

FOOTBALL: A high school player in Grosebeck, Texas, had his left foot amputated after a game-related injury.

A surgeon had to amputate the foot of 16-year-old William Barton because of a two-inch arterial tear found in his leg. The 170-pound linebacker was playing in his first varsity game last Friday when he was hurt.