By Mark Vester

How dedicated is Lennox Lewis to David Haye's cause? He plans to advise, spar and map out a gameplan - combining every effort to ensure a Haye victory in the planned June fight with WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. Lewis stopped Vitali in 2003 after six rounds of action. The ringside doctor felt Vitali's facial cuts were too severe to all him to continue in the fight. Lewis retired soon after and Vitali has been calling him out for a rematch for the last few years. Lewis recently blasted Vitali in the press for continuously pushing rumors of his return.

"We are both athletes, and if I can help David's challenge for a world championship belt I once held with pride, I would spar a couple of rounds with him, no problem. Everyone has aspirations, and Haye clearly has both talent and ambition. But the reality is that he needs to progress step by step. You can't jump straight on to the 36th rung on the heavyweight ladder," Lewis told The Guardian . "If I can help him accelerate up the ladder, I will be happy to support him, but he also has to overcome the potential disadvantage of his size.

"Although it has not always been the case, historically a big heavyweight usually beats a 'small' heavyweight, and if Haye goes on to fight Vitali, he will be taking on a guy who stands 6ft 8in tall and who weighs around two stones heavier. There are ways and means around that, and Manny Pacquiao showed the other week it can be done by beating Oscar De La Hoya, even though he was much smaller and lighter."

Lewis thinks Haye is showing his worth by taking on Vitali. He believes Haye can beat him, but he feels younger brother Wladimir would have been an easier fight.

"Definitely, I think David can beat Vitali," Lewis told The Mirror , "but I think he would have a better chance against Wladimir."

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