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Lennox: Show me the money
Lewis admits he could be lured back into the ring
Last updated: 23rd November 2008
Lewis: Lured by big bucks
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Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has revealed that he could be lured out of retirement - for $100 million.
At 43, the last undisputed champion has been retired for five years since beating Vitali Klitschko on a cuts-enforced stoppage, during which time several reports have surfaced over a possible comeback with few contenders worthy of the name.
But despite the heavyweight division showing signs of a revival - Klitschko made his own comeback recently to win the WBC title after four years in the wilderness - and the recent emergence of David Haye, Lewis believes his return would bring some credibility back.
"My legacy is growing, I was the last of the great heavyweights, the pugilist specialist," Lewis told The Mail on Sunday. "I beat everybody there was to beat, I went back to beat the only two guys to beat me, and I retired after a victory at the end.
"If someone wants to pay me serious money, $100 million or so, then I will fight again.
"I don't have to do this, I don't need the money and my legacy speaks for itself. But boxing needs me. The heavyweight game is so boring now. All the characters are gone.
"It would have to be nearer $100million to make me say yes, but there are people out there who can get that kind of money together. There are a lot of people who would pay to see me fight again.
"It would be exciting, for the sport and for me. And if I come back it will be to win, not play."
However, to many talk of a comeback is absurd. Lewis is considered to be a least three stone over fighting weight and climbing into the ring at 44 would be way past his peak.
A return to the fight game would almost certainly do nothing to enhance his legacy, particularly if the six-years younger Klitschko was to gain belated revenge for what some considered to be an unlucky defeat five years ago.
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Comments (28)
Tristian Cook says...
RE: Mooney Cheers for the comments Chris. Calzaghe was exceptional against Kessler, was that his peak?? Im pretty confident he would have done the same 12-15 years ago when he fought the likes of Eubank. And what about the Lacy fight? He wasn't to bad then either. Is that not the mark of a great fighter, someone who can maintain that intensity for that amount of time. Jones was finished '5 years ago' (Your words not mine) Hatton fought the best there is and lost - he admits it. His last fight was against one of the 'top americans' - suprise, suprise, the US press says 'he wasn't that good anyway'. Nothing to do with the fact Hatton was great. Tyzu, a great champ hatton beat - Castillio, great fighter hatton beat - there's been a few Im not knocking American fighters, im just saying give credit when credits due - something that seems to be a struggle for you guys accross the atlantic Cheers PS: Don't see your big fighters in any hurry to come over here, yet our fighters are to apprehensive to come their?? Hopkins, Jones, Mayweather - never seen them here Lewis, Calzaghe, Hatton - all been over there and all done well
Posted 06:14 1st December 2008
Andrew Mcclean says...
I more or less totally agree with Mark Edwards comments. Lennox L was a good heavyweight. He has in the past however compared himself to M Ali and said he should be mentioned in the same sentence as some of the past H/Weight greats. No way. You must be joking..... The fighters in Ali's day were all greats. Lennox could do no more than beat the men around during his era, but not really any of them could be considered as GREATS. Not really even one of them. Soz LL, but good yes, nothing wrong with that. In your day you beat anyone really of any note, but don't kid yourself. All the greats were a notch above you, and Ali was a notch at least above them. To finish off, If you matched both fighters, in their prime, Ali would have made you look pedestrian at best. The man was never knocked out, or counted out, in 21 years as a professional H/W boxer. Even one of the hardest punching heavyweights in history according to many boxing experts G Foreman, couldn't knock Ali out. Yes he's a hero of mine, but honestly, realistically, I'm just telling the truth. Last point. Don't comeback, your too old, although you probably think not, as all proud boxers think. And if i had half the money your talking about coming back for, I would think of better ways of spending it. Don't take to heart these points. They're just my opinions. Andrew
Posted 19:33 29th November 2008
Levi Francis says...
yow yow ma man lennox the conquerer. you have done well like a big ship sailing on the ocean thats your time to look back on with deep pride and joy. in my view please dont risk it for the embarrestment nor the money you dont need it. yes the devision could do with fighters like you but david haye is the new spark he just need to keep his chin out of the way. please enjoy your retirement gracefully. nuff respect for your achievement. Bless you my Brother.
Posted 19:46 27th November 2008
Mark Edwards says...
Although it is a hell of an achievement to become a world champion, I never rated Lennox Lewis during his career, good fighter maybe, but no way is he up there with the greats.
Posted 09:15 25th November 2008
Chris Mooney says...
re: Tristian Joe Calzaghe's "peak was November 2007, against Kessler. 12 months before he beat Jones. Roy Jones peak was something like 1996, 12 years ago, and he has been completely shot for something like 5. It's just an ignorant, PR sort of comment. Claiming Joe being 12 months past his best "if he even is" is comparable to Jones being 12, and completely shot. Joe isn't anywhere near being finished. Jones has been finished for half a decade. UK fighters generally do get their best wins against fading Americans, as they don't take risks over here. Hopkins, Tyson, Jones, were already fully exposed when they lost. Tyson and Jones were shot. The only Uk fighter who has faced a peak American recently is Ricky Hatton and he was schooled.
Posted 11:04 24th November 2008
Steven Haynes says...
The only fight Lewis should consider is Riddick Bowe!!!! Both have been retired for many years and never fought as professionals. Bowe is allegedly making a come back. Regardless of what criteria you use Lennox is a top five heavyweight of all time. Easily Britains best ever boxer.
Posted 09:43 24th November 2008
Tristian Cook says...
Its so boring to hear every american ramble on about our lads only winning against 'their' spent forces. Calzaghe beat Jones up, who was past he's best, but is Calzaghe really in his prime at 37. Hatton has beat everyone, yet every time he wins he never gets the creidt, there either 'past their best', 'werent that good anyway', its so boring to hear. I can hold my hands up as a brit and say Mayweather is the best out there, and superb fighter i love to watch, however, give Lennox the credit he deserves, he beat everyone, Foreman reffered to him as the greatest ever, and I honestly believe he would have beat Tyson in his prime. No one ever really caught Tyson in his prime, only Buster Douglas, and as soon as Tyson couldn't bully an opponent he struggled. Lewis is the best heavyweight of the last generation, a true great . . . . . . stayed retired, your to good to leave a stain on your legacy, and if anything did go wrong, i dont think i could bear to listen to the double standards we would undoubtedley here from accross the atlantic of 'I always said he wasnt that good'
Posted 23:20 23rd November 2008
Lee Bennett says...
Lennox Lewis is the best heavyweight that England has produced...he fought everyone available an ducked no-one.His first fight after losing to Mcall was against dangerous Lionel Butler who was on a decent win streak an mainly avoided but Lennox did a number on him...he came in over weight but that wasn,t Lewis,s fault.His record speaks for itself...Ruddock,Bruno,Golota,Grant,Tua,Mercer,Mavrovic,Holyfield,Tyson an so on...an how many guys have retired beating the guys they lost too in rematches!!!!.Once Lennox retired the division sank into a lull...there aint been anyone since Lewis to light it up an does anyone really think that Lewis would not have gone through the current east european champions???...they wouldn,t of lasted 3 rounds with Lennox.So please stay retired Lennox you have nothing to prove an don,t need the money so enjoy your life an much respect!!!...lastly the only thing i was disappointed in was that he never got to fight Riddick Bowe who i thought had a good chance of besting Lennox...but Riddick avoided Lewis so it never happened...sad!!!
Posted 21:18 23rd November 2008
Jon Walker says...
Asmuch as i like Lennox Lewis, and rate him as one of the greatest, i don't think he'd stand a chance now. He's been retired for too long,he's put oin too much weight, stepping into the ring would be disasterous. Its been said that Holyfield can still contend for a title, why can't Lewis? Simple answer....Holyfield has never been retired and never stops training. Klitschko would finish Lewis inside of 8 rounds, and he will go down for his failed comeback. If the heavyweight division is a joke, im coming back would be the icing on the cake, get a grip!!
Posted 20:54 23rd November 2008
Sean Odonnell says...
Some of these comments really made me laugh Quote - "a great champion should know enough not to get KO'd by the likes of Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. I guess not, so by that yardstick Ali was a bum, after all he got KO'd in all but name by a 14 stone Henry Cooper, Tyson got flattened by Douglas. For the record Ali, Foreman, Shavers, Frazier and Tyson are all on record as admitting that Lennox Lewis was not only undisputably the best of his era but probably the best ever. Tyson knew he would never beat Lewis, remember it was Tyson who paid Lewis a very large sum of money to avoid fighting him!!!
Posted 19:04 23rd November 2008
Yohan Abraha says...
I think that lewis would only do a fight now, for the money and nothing else
Posted 18:45 23rd November 2008
Martynbealing Bealing says...
lennox you dont need this , you proved to us all how good you are. stay out of it, yr the true champ. no one can keep going n want to see as you are, not as a has been.
Posted 17:13 23rd November 2008
Nico Washbourn says...
He says he doesn't need the money, that boxing needs him, yet he'll only do it for £100 million. What a load! Not interested in a comeback fight
Posted 17:11 23rd November 2008
Marvin Greensmith says...
Being a big Lennox Lewis fan myself i was excied at the prospect of a return for him, but if im honest id rather see him stay retired and remebred of one of the all time greats,he has nothing to prove, Vitali can moan all he wants regarding his loss to Lewis but the fact of the matter is the ref stopped that fight for a reason so stop throwing your dummy out of the pram!!!
Posted 17:02 23rd November 2008
Mark Moloney says...
Lewis stop talking through your backside boxing doesnt 'need' you you fought tyson.holyfield who were past there best if both were in peak form you would have been buried inside 4 rounds stay away fatso.
Posted 16:56 23rd November 2008
Colin Shearer says...
Unless lewis has run out of money, he looks as if he may have eaten it!!, why would he even consider getting back in the ring. He WAS one of the last great heavyweight champions, as he says "beat everyone worth fighting" and then retired, fit, healthy and a legend. Why risk messing all that up and then have to retire because you are no longer up to it, but this time with huge regrets. That's when fighters get seriously hurt striving for an impossible comeback that noone wants to see
Posted 16:51 23rd November 2008
Liam Houghton says...
David Haye is the future... stay retired Lennox!
Posted 15:39 23rd November 2008
Dave Budge says...
If De La Hoya can fight Pacquaio in a circus match-up, why cant Lewis make a come back??? in honesty who would pose any problems to Lewis other than Vitali?? i think if Lewis comes back he will be the best once again. Holyfield is fighting for a world title at 46 so what credibility if any is there left in Heavyweight boxing? i would pay to see a Lewis return and i think it would make excellent entertainment. COME ON VITALI COUGH UP THE CASH COS U KNOW U WANT REVENGE SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 13:29 23rd November 2008
Jay F says...
I'd say Lennox you have nothing to prove to none of the fighters or anyone else! stay retired. I dont know which boxer in Britain who has been undisputed heavyweight champion, held that position for x amount of years and gone to their own back garden and wiped out all the heavyweights from the United States. You are one of the greatest i've seen out of the boxing scene in my time.
Posted 13:22 23rd November 2008
Chris Cotterell says...
Would people actually pay that sort of money to get a spent force back in the ring? i could imagine if it was one of the true greats like Tyson pre-return failure, or someone of that stature i'd understand it, but was Lennox one of the greats? or was he just one of the better fighters in a downfall weight group? I can't see him competing and it'd be a farce to just make money. I'd rather pay good money to see Hatton vs De La Hoya.
Posted 12:18 23rd November 2008