Retired heavyweight king Lennox Lewis gave an hour-long interview with UK-based Sky Sports on November 26. In this interview, Lewis was remarkably detailed and candid in his remarks regarding his career losses, toughest fights, the state of the modern heavyweight division, and why he never sought a rematch with Vitali Klitschko.
Lennox Lewis, now 45, was the last man to reign as Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, and his last fight was with Vitali Klitschko. The bout has continued to be controversial in the minds of some Klitschko fans, who think Klitschko was beating Lewis when the fight was stopped on cuts. According to the logic of these critics, Lewis ducked Klitschko when he chose to retire. According to Lewis, that position is pure rubbish.
About Klitschko and the Modern Division
Lewis told Sky Sports “When it came time for me to see if I should fight Klitschko again, I thought – at my worst, at my worst! – I beat Klitschko and look what I did to his face! I was at my worst, [so] just think if I’d trained just a little bit harder. I didn’t need to fight him again.” Vitali Klitschko was a short-notice substitute for the underachieving Kirk Johnson, and Lewis appeared in the ring that night at his career-high weight.
Lewis further speculated about the Klitschkos and their dominance in the current heavyweight ranks by saying “That’s the problem today with the heavyweights, they only train for a five round fight, and that’s why the Klitschkos beat them, because they are in such great condition.”
Lewis and the 1990s
As for his first career loss to Oliver McCall, Lewis said “His right hand got there first” and then explained that he was up on his feet, but the referee counted fast and would not let him continue. Hasim Rahman’s victory he dismissed as a lucky shot.
As for the toughest fight of his career, Lewis pointed not to Vitali Klitschko, but to the anvil-jawed monolith of the 1990s, Ray Mercer. Lewis confessed “Ray Mercer was tough. They put me in a small ring with him. That was a great fight. They really wanted to test my heart, so they gave me that fight. He asked me some questions with his combinations, and I answered him with combinations.”
Because of the smaller ring, Lewis was unable to use movement and reach, and was therefore forced to engage Mercer in a close-ranged slugging match. Lewis prevailed in a close fight, and Mercer had to seek neck surgery shortly after the fight.
