Don't do it, Lennox Lewis: stay retired!
Published October 14, 2008 by Martin Bean
As predicted in our report of the Vitali Klitschko vs. Samuel Peter fight, Vitali’s impressive performance has prompted calls for Britain’s retired former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, Lennox Lewis, to return to the ring and settle what some consider ‘Unfinished Business’ between the pair.
They met in Lewis’ final fight, June 2003, in what was undoubtedly one of the most exciting Heavyweight fights in recent years. Vitali started impressively and was ahead on points until a savage cut saw him ruled out after six rounds. But at that point Lewis was coming on strong and in my mind, looked set to take over in the second half of the fight.
Rumours are abound that Don King is prepared to offer $25 million to Lennox for him to comeback and take on Vitali but the advice from Boxing Capital is simple—Don’t do it Lennox!
Lewis, in compiling his final slate of 41-2 (32 KO’s), defeated every man he entered the ring with. He avenged his two defeats with knockout’s in rematches. He won British, Commonwealth, European and Undisputed World Titles. He took on all credible opponents of his generation (he may not have fought Riddick Bowe in the Professional’s but did beat him in the Seoul Olympic final for gold—3rd round stoppage) and never ducked challenges. Lewis really has nothing to prove!
But the offers have started and I have no doubt they will climb. Lewis is one of the most intelligent boxers of his era and I suspect (and hope!) that he is laughing off these offers and not taking them seriously. I have no doubt that somewhere inside him he would like to come and answer the one lingering question mark over his career; despite his apparent happiness in retirement we must remember that all fighters are fiercely proud creatures.
At the end of the day, if a rematch with Vitali was what Lewis wanted, he would have done it as soon as Vitali’s cut was healed. Now, 5 years later, Lewis is long retired. Nowhere near fighting shape and hasn’t been for a long time, he will have been enjoying part of life he wasn’t able to do in his life as a disciplined boxer.
Lewis was 43 last month and now, a return would be beyond him. I realise that Vitali returned to the ring quite emphatically after almost four years out, but Vitali has been training, keeping in shape, only injuries have meant he was out for so long. Lewis’ reflexes will not be what they were five years ago, his hands not as fast.
The calls from the media will continue and I expect the story to run and run for the next few weeks—even Frank Warren was interviewed on national radio this morning asking his thoughts on the possible match up. Fact is, despite Vitali’s return, the heavyweights are in a dire state and Lewis’ return would give the division a real boost.
But Lewis must be selfish, forget his fighters pride and not give Vitali a chance to tarnish his legacy—right now, Lewis is one of the few who bowed out at the very pinnacle of our noble sport and stayed retired.
So please, one last time, stay retired Lennox. If you want to clean up the Heavyweight go and give David Haye some advice on how to beat the Klitschko’s!
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