By Mark Vester
The returning Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 34KOs) has told Russian news website Kommersant that retired former champion Lennox Lewis is interested in a rematch, if the money is right. Lewis fought Klitschko in 2003, stopping him in six-rounds due to cuts. Klitschko, who was a late replacement for an injured Kirk Johnson, gave Lewis he could handle in the fight and was leading on the scorecards when ringside physicians felt his cuts were too serious to let him continue with the contest. Lewis retired soon after and a rematch never happened.
Klitschko makes his own return after a two-year retirement against former title challenger Jameel McCline on Sept. 22 at Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany.
Klitschko claims to have recently spoken with Lewis about the possibility of a rematch in 2008. According to Klitschko, if he becomes the world champion and the networks offer a significant sum of money to make the fight happen - it will happen. Lewis allegedly told him that if he receives "an offer which satisfies him financially," he would be willing to go for it.
Klitschko admits that he needs a world title in order to get the big networks to offer up a large sum of money for the fight.
“If I become the world champion, the leading TV channels will make that offer,” Klitschko said.
He is currently scheduled to fight the winner of the Oct. 6 bout between WBC champion Oleg Maskaev and mandatory challenger Samuel Peter. The first order of business is to beat McCline, who is 8-4 since 2004.
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