Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Klitschko Still Craves Lewis Re-match, Johannes Berendt, PA Sport, Mannheim

[Glax0r]

KLITSCHKO STILL CRAVES LEWIS RE-MATCH

By Johannes Berendt, PA Sport, Mannheim

Former world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has admitted he would be tempted to have one more fight - but only if Lennox Lewis also comes out of retirement and grants him a rematch.

Lewis stopped a badly-cut Klitschko in the sixth round in Los Angeles in 2003 and has not fought again, while Klitschko went on to claim the WBC crown and defended it once before retiring due to injury.

Klitschko watched his younger brother Wladimir claim the IBF crown with a seventh- round stoppage of Chris Byrd in Mannheim on Saturday night then admitted: "When Lennox Lewis comes I will do one more fight.

"Please speak to Lennox Lewis. It all depends on him. If he makes his comeback, I will be ready to make a comeback myself. Right now there is not a reason to fight. If (I) fight, then Lennox."

Klitschko was ahead on all three judges� scorecards before their bloody encounter was controversially stopped due to a deep cut above his eye.

"I had a dream after the fight. I won the fight," added Klitschko. "But in my fight record I was losing. Not just me but the media and all boxing fans wait for a second fight. And I will be very happy to fight him again but it does not depend on me."

For the time being, Klitschko is focusing on his political career in the Ukraine where he recently failed in his bid to become mayor of Kiev, and he insists he has not regretted his decision to hang up his gloves.

Klitschko added: "My heart will remain in this sport for my entire life but at some point you have to call it a career. Last year I had three surgeries and had to postpone three fights. Had I continued and then underwent another surgery I would have been a worldwide laughing stock. I simply could not carry on."

Vitali also said he was very proud of his brother Wladimir who claimed a version of the heavyweight title for the second time courtesy of his comprehensive victory over long-serving American champion Byrd.

"I have always said he has more talent than me. If he fights to his potential he could be a second Lennox Lewis. He has got what it takes to be a great fighter."

[AS IRON AS]

What would be the point, by the time it took place it would be 5/6 years after the original fight.

NO thanks!

[Turtlewaax]

I agree, Lewis was out of shape his body was soft.

[ROCKYMARSHMELLOW]

What gets me is why is he OK to take on someone as dangerous as Lewis, but when it comes to fighting fighters that are actually in his era and still active all of sudden he cant cos he has career threatning injury's.


Klits is just looking for one glory shot instead of doing the hard work like Lewis did and beating everyone in his era and fighting all comers, Vitali thinks that somehow he can get a quick fix and beating a 40 odd year old fighter who has been retired for 3 years gives him that glory.

A legacy is about a body of work that you get over a period of time, not just two fights against a fighter who was at the end of his career in the 1st place.


Vitali needs to get a grip and if he is capable of fighting Lewis at the drop of a hat then why is he not capable of fighting anyone else out there. Lazy ass fighter looking to make a name off the back of Lewis, I would love Lewis to come back and drop the big lump but then I think let the fooker rot because no one will even remember his name in 10 years time.

[ROCKYMARSHMELLOW]

I agree, Lewis was out of shape his body was soft.

And he still won... and smashed his face to bits.

[ee01akk]

And he still won...      and smashed his face to bits. 

Hardly Vitali wasn't the one who was about to collapse, he was controlling the fight very well and outboxing Lewis effectively and almost had Lennox out in round 2. Except for those couple uppercuts, and rabbit punches by Lennox, what else did Lennox do in round 6??