Is Lennox Lewis reconsidering Vitali rematch

A couple of comments he made on HBO PPV the other night made me think he went from the door being definitely shut to probably shut. He is showing signs of caving. His criticism of Vitali has been ridiculous and he has gone to the lengths of training his competitors...and basically saying every one of his opponents will beat him. Then this article from boxinginsider.com below. :) Boxing: Lewis Itching for Klitschko Reatch Liverpool Echo - December 13, 2004 FORMER world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has hinted he could be tempted out of retirement by a mouth-watering rematch with WBC title holder Vitali Klitschko. Lewis hung up his gloves after a sixth round stoppage win over the Ukrainian in June 2003, when Klitschko was forced to retire on cuts. But after watching Klitschko demolish Danny Williams in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Lewis admitted he would like to avenge his fellow Briton. "Watching it stirred something inside me, " said Lewis. "I am only nine months from being fully fit and seeing what happened to Danny made me want to step in. "I wanted to tap him on the shoulder and say 'Sit down, mate, let me take over and finish it for you. Let me show you how it is done'. "I really felt like jumping in the ring, as when I retired all the B-class fighters like Chris Byrd and Hasim Rahman suddenly became A-class. "Those two may be able to give Klitschko a decent contest. But what he really needs is someone tall and good. I wonder who that could be, " he said. Williams, meanwhile, has vowed to carry on boxing in the hope of securing another world title shot. "I want to continue, " said the former British champion. "Look at Frank Bruno, he lost three times in world title fights and then finally got his title. (C) 2004 Liverpool Echo. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved

Comments (20)

Holmes

he will do it.

14y ago

scramwarrior

Lewis doesnt stand a chance

21y ago

scramwarrior

Yep he is trying to kick vks ass.

21y ago

tys0n

i would love to see klitschko/lewis rematch. that fight was very exciting and it would finally shut lewis up. if they did fight a second time and lewis lost would he still have beat evey opponent he faced or what they consider it a loss since lewis would beat klitschko before their second fight?

21y ago

suetombo

lets just hope he returns ...whether he tarnishes his career or not i couldn't care less but that would be one fight i would be dying to see..

21y ago

moochi

why shouldn't he...........earn heaps to fight a hopeless frankenstein........danny williams was right in saying that if klitschko wasn't so tall, he would never have been heard of............and lewis being near his height, would make it an easy pay day..........have you ever seen klitschko throw a three punch "co-ordinated" combination?? of course not..........

21y ago

liams_parka

there are two different thoughts: 1) if he comes back and loses, or only narrowly wins in unimpressive style then his legacy is tarnished 2) if he wins well then the uncertainty surrounding whether he would have lost to vitali the first time would be eclipsed, and he would be regarded the finest heavyweight of his generation. on balance i reckon the first is more likely.

21y ago

mcnabbmcnow

Vitali is entertaining....I don't know what the heck you are talking about. He doesn't back off and clutch people like Ruiz. He doesn't hit you will little jabs then duck away like Byrd. He has put some serious hurt on his opponents and forced some of them to retire. I think Vitali has more power than you think, and I think he doesn't go for the knockout blow because he has faced heavier, more dangerous opponents, who can take a lot of punishment, like Sanders and Williams. I think had he gone for broke he might have knocked them out earlier, but let's face it, Vitali has won all but one of his 35 fights by KO or TKO. That is what fans want.

21y ago

comepana

Dunno about that been true or not but a prime lewis would have kill vitaly IMO.

21y ago

PBDS

I would be shocked if LL came back....of all the years he has fought the biggest strength that Lennox possessed was his brain. He is easily the smartest heavyweight champ in the last two decades (might not be saying that much)...had Bowe had Lewis's brain he probably could have milked out a few more years as a champ... Maybe there is fire still in him...maybe that fire can only come out at ringside while watching the HW championship...it is quite possible that he went home and thought too himself...what the fuck did I just say-no way Im comming back or... There is a good reason why Manny Steward works closely with the Klitchkos and in the next year the game plan against VK will have already been drawn up long in advance. ....That's something I may be starting to buy into. The idea of Manny being a kind of plant or double agent. What a great conspiracy theory that makes. Is that Don King peaking from behind the bank depository building? Who is that standing on the grassy knoll BTW?

21y ago

Truth8215

I hop Lennox doesn't comeback because I was happy when he retired as champion at 38. Thats the way it should be.

21y ago

scap

id love to see lewis come back and beat vitali's ass. vitali brings nothing to the table as hw champ. we need someone like rahman to carry that, someone whos at least an entertaining figure, not just a massive russian who never speaks 2 words I love the rock too but the problem with him is he always opens his mouth and very rarely backs it up. His performance against Ruiz was dreadful, digusting, disgraceful...Rock is a better talker than he is a fighter. I would rather have it the other way around!

21y ago

BDBowe

but yea lewis definately shouldnt, he would prob be beat and it would be sad to see lewis go out like that, the same way mike and evander and pretty much bowe did its good to at least see one that is doing ok and healthy

21y ago

BDBowe

21y ago

Neuraxis

Lewis isn't dumb enough to come back now. Its all talk.

21y ago

tracylee

I think Lewis would try to end the fight early. I don't think he wants to take sustainable damage from Vitali. He doesn't want this thing dragging on 8 or 9 rounds. If Lewis failed to get Vitali early and got knocked out in the 6th round or later...I think Lewis would stay down. I don't see him trying to get up at all. True, I just hope that it wouldnt go that way. I like Lewis alot and have loads of respect for him..I'd love for him to fight Vitali again (and win) if only for the nay sayers ;)

21y ago

AKATheMack

Lewis let himself go too much already. It would take him too long to get back into shape, to do anything significant. There is a difference between a 38yr old fighter and a 40yr old fighter, just ask holyfield.

21y ago

mcnabbmcnow

I agree...I would never count Lennox out and if he comes in at his normal weight and takes Vitali seriously then I dont see him having any problem beating him. Just my opinion (and yeah I realize its not the most popular one on this issue :D ) I think Lewis would try to end the fight early. I don't think he wants to take sustainable damage from Vitali. He doesn't want this thing dragging on 8 or 9 rounds. If Lewis failed to get Vitali early and got knocked out in the 6th round or later...I think Lewis would stay down. I don't see him trying to get up at all.

21y ago

marvdave

I would rather see Lenny stay retired. I'm a fan of his, but at 40 years old and many Red Stripes later, only bad things can happen. In my opinion, his legacy is secure and has nothing to prove...Let's turn the page on him. He should go down as borderline top ten all time. A very respectable career.

21y ago

tracylee

If Lewis really did want to make a comeback, he is still young enough and it is not like he is an old 38. I think that after Vitaly wins his next fight, perhaps Lewis will come out of retirement and give Vitaly a run for his money before going back to retirement. I agree...I would never count Lennox out and if he comes in at his normal weight and takes Vitali seriously then I dont see him having any problem beating him. Just my opinion (and yeah I realize its not the most popular one on this issue :D )

21y ago