Lennox Lewis To Return ?

wildhawke11 · 01-23-2005, 10:08 AM

Exclusive From Jon Clarke In Jamaica

LENNOX LEWIS will make a dramatic return to the ring in November for a super-fight with Vitali Klitschko. The former undisputed world heavyweight champion quit boxing in January 2004 but is in negotiations to make a stunning return. Lewis revealed:

"I'm making a comeback later this year."The money is up to $32 million right now and I simply can't turn that much cash down." Lewis, who made more than $100 million during his brilliant career, added: "I'm going to start training seriously and I'm going back to England to start sorting this out.

"I need the money just like everyone else and it's just too good to be turned down."
Lewis will fly from his luxury holiday home in Jamaica's Montego Bay this week for a series of secret talks in London. He has spent much of the last year in Jamaica with his girlfriend Violet Chung.

They have recently had their first baby, a daughter, and Chung, who is an American of Jamaican decent, is studying for a PhD at Kingston University. Current WBC heavyweight Champion Klitschko lost to Lewis in a bloody and bad-tempered brawl in Los Angeles in July 2003.

Lewis was booed from the ring that night and refused to give Klitschko a rematch. Last year, when Lennox decided to retire, Klitschko said: "Lewis is scared to fight me." Lewis first talked about returning to the ring when he watched old foe Klitschko beat Danny Williams last December in Las Vegas. He revealed: "I wanted to get in the ring and show Danny how to beat him.

"I've had to listen to a lot of rubbish from Klitschko and he is starting to get on my nerves." It was noticeable last December in Las Vegas that Lewis had gained only a couple of stones in weight and looked remarkably fit for a man who had not been near a gym for 18 months.

The heavyweight super-fight could take place at the Millennium Stadium if the date is switched from November to October but a more likely venue is the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. "I have always loved to fight in front of the British people and I think they deserve a big fight," said Lewis on the eve of his first fight against Klitschko.

IceTea · 01-23-2005, 10:25 AM

I'm not so sure that Lennox can defeat Vitali now. Its not that Vitali is a dominate champion, he isn't, but its the fact that once your old, your old!

Vitali has a scheduled defense against Rahman in May. Will that get canceled? Its not a given that he will win that one based upon Rahman's fitness level against Meehan.

MJ

mrchallenge · 01-23-2005, 12:11 PM

Please don't do it Lennox! Your making a big mistake!

If you come back, you will not only be fighting Vitali Klitschko, but another opponent as well............Father time. You probably could have whupped him had you been 5 years younger, but dang, you 40 now!

Bam Bam · 01-23-2005, 01:34 PM

I like this, Lennox is trying to extend his legacy, he realizes Vitali is his Joe Frazier, props to Lewis then.

erickdamac · 01-23-2005, 04:48 PM

Yep he just told espn.

I wonder what will happend if hasim rahman beats klitsko on may 21?

Brooks TVB · 01-23-2005, 08:47 PM

If he trains for this fight(which he really did not for the last one) he takes Klitschko easy. Lewis is the best boxer out there right now in my opinion. He is good with his jab and has very good power.

erickdamac · 01-24-2005, 01:04 AM

Sorry guys its not true!!!

He just contact Boxingtalk and told them this.

In response to worldwide reports that he is coming out of retirement to give Vitali Klitschko a rematch, former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis released the following statement to Boxingtalk through his personal assistant: "I'd like to address the stories that are circulating in the press regarding my return to the ring. I want to reiterate what I said when I retired in February 2004 that I was fortunate to leave the sport on my own terms and that I will be one of the few heavyweight champions in history to retire on top and stay retired. I boxed professionally for many years and there will always be an attraction to the sport, but I am not returning to the ring. The recent attention given to the possibility of a comeback is flattering and evidences the public's desire for someone to establish a legacy similar to the one I left behind as the true heavyweight champion of the world," said Lewis. The rumor that Lewis was returning to the ring to face Klitschko for as much as $40 million started in the Sunday Mirror. The Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN and other boxing websites quickly jumped on the bandwagon, parrotting the quotes in the Mirror. Boxingtalk also checked with a source in the Klitschko braintrust and that person also rubbished the claims that Lewis-Klitschko II is in the works. The Klitschko source said that Boxingtalk's top-rated heavyweight is only negotiating for one bout right now... Hasim Rahman, which seems likely to be headed to HBO Championship Boxing in May

Maybe he dont want the attention yet or maybe he is telling the truth but as for now he is still retired.

Mr Big · 01-24-2005, 02:23 AM

You know what they say: "History always repeats itself." I think that, eventually, Lennox Lewis will come out of retirement and get knocked out by Vitali Klitschko. Just like Joe Louis came back and got clocked by Rocky Marciano. I also think that, should the Rahman fight transpire as planned, Vitali has a very tough fight in May. As previously mentioned, it is not a given that he wins that fight. I think that he will, probably by mid-round stoppage, due to Rahman's willingness to go toe-to-toe. But, Hasim is his biggest challenge out there right now, and shouldn't be looked past or taken lightly.

erickdamac · 01-24-2005, 03:23 AM

Lennox just contacted boxingtalk on greg leon and said his daughter is the main reason he wont come out, he said he can walk think, and see and now he is set.

01-23-2005, 10:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
wildhawke11 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: united kingdom Posts: 1,834	Lennox Lewis To Return ? Exclusive From Jon Clarke In Jamaica LENNOX LEWIS will make a dramatic return to the ring in November for a super-fight with Vitali Klitschko. The former undisputed world heavyweight champion quit boxing in January 2004 but is in negotiations to make a stunning return. Lewis revealed: "I'm making a comeback later this year."The money is up to $32 million right now and I simply can't turn that much cash down." Lewis, who made more than $100 million during his brilliant career, added: "I'm going to start training seriously and I'm going back to England to start sorting this out. "I need the money just like everyone else and it's just too good to be turned down." Lewis will fly from his luxury holiday home in Jamaica's Montego Bay this week for a series of secret talks in London. He has spent much of the last year in Jamaica with his girlfriend Violet Chung. They have recently had their first baby, a daughter, and Chung, who is an American of Jamaican decent, is studying for a PhD at Kingston University. Current WBC heavyweight Champion Klitschko lost to Lewis in a bloody and bad-tempered brawl in Los Angeles in July 2003. Lewis was booed from the ring that night and refused to give Klitschko a rematch. Last year, when Lennox decided to retire, Klitschko said: "Lewis is scared to fight me." Lewis first talked about returning to the ring when he watched old foe Klitschko beat Danny Williams last December in Las Vegas. He revealed: "I wanted to get in the ring and show Danny how to beat him. "I've had to listen to a lot of rubbish from Klitschko and he is starting to get on my nerves." It was noticeable last December in Las Vegas that Lewis had gained only a couple of stones in weight and looked remarkably fit for a man who had not been near a gym for 18 months. The heavyweight super-fight could take place at the Millennium Stadium if the date is switched from November to October but a more likely venue is the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. "I have always loved to fight in front of the British people and I think they deserve a big fight," said Lewis on the eve of his first fight against Klitschko.

01-23-2005, 10:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
IceTea Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Utica, NY Posts: 6,899	I'm not so sure that Lennox can defeat Vitali now. Its not that Vitali is a dominate champion, he isn't, but its the fact that once your old, your old! Vitali has a scheduled defense against Rahman in May. Will that get canceled? Its not a given that he will win that one based upon Rahman's fitness level against Meehan. MJ __________________ Don't worry, be happy! Women's Boxing Cyber Boxing Zone IFBA Philadelphia Boxing Understanding Title Bout Boxing Ratings Fighterlist Boxrec Ross Boxing Philly Boxing History

01-24-2005, 02:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mr Big All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,235	You know what they say: "History always repeats itself." I think that, eventually, Lennox Lewis will come out of retirement and get knocked out by Vitali Klitschko. Just like Joe Louis came back and got clocked by Rocky Marciano. I also think that, should the Rahman fight transpire as planned, Vitali has a very tough fight in May. As previously mentioned, it is not a given that he wins that fight. I think that he will, probably by mid-round stoppage, due to Rahman's willingness to go toe-to-toe. But, Hasim is his biggest challenge out there right now, and shouldn't be looked past or taken lightly. __________________ The M.O.B. Isaiah 54:17

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01-23-2005, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
mrchallenge Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 167	Please don't do it Lennox! Your making a big mistake! If you come back, you will not only be fighting Vitali Klitschko, but another opponent as well............Father time. You probably could have whupped him had you been 5 years younger, but dang, you 40 now!

01-23-2005, 01:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bam Bam All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York Posts: 983	I like this, Lennox is trying to extend his legacy, he realizes Vitali is his Joe Frazier, props to Lewis then.

01-23-2005, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
erickdamac All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,592	Yep he just told espn. I wonder what will happend if hasim rahman beats klitsko on may 21?

01-23-2005, 08:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Brooks TVB All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: Loudon, TN. Posts: 1,365	If he trains for this fight(which he really did not for the last one) he takes Klitschko easy. Lewis is the best boxer out there right now in my opinion. He is good with his jab and has very good power.

01-24-2005, 01:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
erickdamac All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,592	Sorry guys its not true!!! He just contact Boxingtalk and told them this. In response to worldwide reports that he is coming out of retirement to give Vitali Klitschko a rematch, former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis released the following statement to Boxingtalk through his personal assistant: "I'd like to address the stories that are circulating in the press regarding my return to the ring. I want to reiterate what I said when I retired in February 2004 that I was fortunate to leave the sport on my own terms and that I will be one of the few heavyweight champions in history to retire on top and stay retired. I boxed professionally for many years and there will always be an attraction to the sport, but I am not returning to the ring. The recent attention given to the possibility of a comeback is flattering and evidences the public's desire for someone to establish a legacy similar to the one I left behind as the true heavyweight champion of the world," said Lewis. The rumor that Lewis was returning to the ring to face Klitschko for as much as $40 million started in the Sunday Mirror. The Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN and other boxing websites quickly jumped on the bandwagon, parrotting the quotes in the Mirror. Boxingtalk also checked with a source in the Klitschko braintrust and that person also rubbished the claims that Lewis-Klitschko II is in the works. The Klitschko source said that Boxingtalk's top-rated heavyweight is only negotiating for one bout right now... Hasim Rahman, which seems likely to be headed to HBO Championship Boxing in May Maybe he dont want the attention yet or maybe he is telling the truth but as for now he is still retired.

01-24-2005, 03:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
erickdamac All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,592	Lennox just contacted boxingtalk on greg leon and said his daughter is the main reason he wont come out, he said he can walk think, and see and now he is set.