By Mark Vester
The news of a Lennox Lewis return has flooded media outlets in the UK and is now making the rounds in the American media. I would take any of these reports with a grain of salt because this is not the first time that reports of a Lennox Lewis return has flooded the media. It has happened more than once in the last few years, and each time Lewis would tell the media that there was no truth to the reports.
Lennox Lewis, 41-years-old and a former three-time heavyweight champion, is said to be interested in a one-time return to the ring against the recently un-retired Vitali Klitschko.
The news of a Lewis return was initially broken by UK news outlet "Daily Mail." The paper conducted an interview with promoter Frank Warren, who revealed that he was told by Top Rank president Bob Arum, that Lewis was making moves for a return to the ring to fight Klitschko.
Warren says that Arum told him - "Lennox has been discussing with his pals at HBO the prospect of a one-off world title re-match with Klitschko."
Warren says that he is making plans to stage the bout between late September and early November, in Wembley Stadium. Lewis stands to make $25 million for the fight.
"I am told Lennox is back in the gym. This is an enormous fight in the making. No matter how often a boxer says he will never come back, the money always talks louder in the end if the offer is big enough. I am told Lennox is back in the gym and this is an enormous fight in the making," Warren said. "I would expect a live gate of between 60,000 and 75,000 spectators for a trans-Atlantic pay-per-view fight with a total worth of anything from $50m to $75m."
The fight could actually take place for the WBC heavywieght title. The paper claims that Samuel Peter is close to striking a deal to take "step aside" money in order to allow Vitali Klitschko to challenge to WBC champion Oleg Maskaev on April 23 in Moscow.
Lewis retired three years ago. Lewis last saw ring action in June 2003, when he stopped Vitali Klitschko in six rounds due to severe cuts.