Connect with us

Articles of 2005

Lennox Lewis – Don't Call It A Comeback

Published

on

The tabloids say ‘this’, Lennox Lewis says ‘that’ . . . who can we believe?

A ‘tabloid’ by dictionary definition is a paper that features stories of “violence, crime or scandal presented in a sensational manner.” It seems to me that we were fed a juicy bit of news many wanted to hear but which had been “sensationalized” to the point where it simply was not the truth.

Lennox Lewis says ‘no’ it isn't happening. Contrary to reports last weekend in the Sunday Mirror that the former heavyweight King will be making a comeback to clean the division of its jokers and jesters, Lewis says ‘no’- the King is gone.

For good.

Lewis retired on his own terms on February 6th of 2004 after having defeated Vitali Klitschko in June the previous year and seems to be set on staying that way. Retired, that is. The “news” this past weekend suggested Lewis had said he “needed the money just like everyone else” and the money was “too good to turn down” to come back and fight Vitali in a rematch. While I can imagine that, at some point, the money does become too good to turn down, I assume that everyone does have their price, but I’m still not buying it. I simply cannot fathom Lennox ‘needing’ the money as the report suggested.

Lewis rocked and rolled through the heavyweight division fighting mega-fight after mega-fight. Perhaps his opposition wasn't always the big attraction, but at 6'5″ 250-pounds and having beaten the best of the best at his time, Lewis was a star whether it was because people liked him or because they were holding their breath for him to be knocked from his perch. Needing the money? I don't think so.

In addition to having his own promotional company, Lewis has always been a smart bloke and intelligent with his money. No lavish lifestyle or caged lions on his property. Just tea and a chess match seem to suit the regal one just fine.

So, if it weren’t for money, what would motivate Lewis to comeback?

Vitali Klitschko has been trying to bait Lewis into a rematch ever since their 2003 bout in which Klitschko, ahead on cards, was stopped due to a grotesque cut over his left eye. The cut was gaping and in such a dangerous location that his vision would be – or was – impaired as blood ran into the eye. The ringside doctor correctly stopped the bout and Lewis was rightfully awarded a TKO 6 victory.

I don't know what it is with these Klitschko Brothers, but I do find it a tad frustrating. For being so academically decorated and linguistically versed they definitely seem to have a cloudy knowledge of the rules of the sweet science. Klitschko moaned and complained to anyone who would listen, and still does, how he should have been permitted to continue on that night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Yes, Vitali was narrowly ahead – he was leading 58-56 on all three judge’s scorecards – when the fight was stopped, but it was stopped for the right reason. The rules are the rules. Just as little big brother Wladimir cried outrage when he lost his WBO title to Lamon Brewster after punching himself out and not being able to continue, Vitali lost because he could no longer go on in the condition he was in. The rules are there to protect fighters and in both cases they served their purpose. Surely these two can put their heads together and come up with the truth.

The bottom line for Vitali Klitschko is that Lennox Lewis doesn't need to come back to the sport and fight him again. The ‘bottom line’ is also the financial bottom line for Vitali. There is simply no fight on the horizon for any fighter in the heavyweight division that could match the economic windfall of a Vitali-Lewis rematch.

Perhaps equally important to Lennox Lewis – the English-born son of Jamaican parents who won an Olympic Gold medal for Canada in 1988 – is to take the high road and stay one up on Vitali. To succumb to the constant verbal badgering of Vitali Klitschko would be to stoop to his level. Staying retired is the surest way for Vitali to never avenge the defeat, and to forever have the edge in the game of one-upmanship on the elder Ukrainian.

The comeback of Lennox Lewis is the stuff that tabloids can run any day of the week – sensationalizing the truth, as they are known to do. In England, they do it as well as any and could teach the National Enquirer a thing or two on how far one can twist the facts.

Fortunately, it appears that Lewis is retired and intends to stay that way. I say fortunately because I believe Lewis accomplished many great things in his career and made the appropriate decision to leave the sport when he did and how he did – on top.

The next time we hear rumors of a Lewis comeback I just hope we get a better excuse than that he needs the money. Lennox Lewis needs the money about as much as the Klitschko Brothers need another excuse.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Avila-Perspective,-Chap.-323:-Benn-vs-Eubank-Family-Feud-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Chris-Eubank-Jr-Outlasts-Conor-Benn-at-Tottenham-Hotsour-Stadium
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Jorge-Garcia-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-April
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Rolly-Romero-Upsets-Ryan-Garcia-in-the-Finale-of-a-Times-Square-Tripleheader
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Rolly Romero Upsets Ryan Garcia in the Finale of a Times Square Tripleheader

Avila-Perspective-Chap-324-Ryan-Garcia-Leads-Three-Days-in-May-Battles
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 324: Ryan Garcia Leads Three Days in May Battles

Undercard-Results-and-Recaps-from-the-Inoue-Cardenas-Show-in-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Undercard Results and Recaps from the Inoue-Cardenas Show in Las Vegas

Canelo-Alvarez-Upends-Dancing-Machine-William-Scull-in-Saudi-Arabia
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Canelo Alvarez Upends Dancing Machine William Scull in Saudi Arabia

Bombs-Away-in-Las-Vegas-where-Inoue-and-Espinoza-Scored-Smashing-Triumphs
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Bombs Away in Las Vegas where Inoue and Espinoza Scored Smashing Triumphs

Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Arne's-Almanac-The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-(mostly)-Ugly-A-Weeend-Boxing-Recap-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Arne’s Almanac: The Good, the Bad, and the (Mostly) Ugly; a Weekend Boxing Recap and More

Stephen-Breadman-Edwards-An-Unlikely-Boxing-Coach-with-a-Panoramic-View-of-the-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

“Breadman” Edwards: An Unlikely Boxing Coach with a Panoramic View of the Sport

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-Top-Rank-and-San-Diego-Smoke
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: Top Rank and San Diego Smoke

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles1 week ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles6 days ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles6 days ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles6 days ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles5 hours ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles8 hours ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles3 days ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles6 days ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles6 days ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles6 days ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles1 week ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-Top-Rank-and-San-Diego-Smoke
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: Top Rank and San Diego Smoke

Stephen-Breadman-Edwards-An-Unlikely-Boxing-Coach-with-a-Panoramic-View-of-the-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

“Breadman” Edwards: An Unlikely Boxing Coach with a Panoramic View of the Sport

Arne's-Almanac-The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-(mostly)-Ugly-A-Weeend-Boxing-Recap-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Arne’s Almanac: The Good, the Bad, and the (Mostly) Ugly; a Weekend Boxing Recap and More

Bombs-Away-in-Las-Vegas-where-Inoue-and-Espinoza-Scored-Smashing-Triumphs
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Bombs Away in Las Vegas where Inoue and Espinoza Scored Smashing Triumphs

Undercard-Results-and-Recaps-from-the-Inoue-Cardenas-Show-in-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Undercard Results and Recaps from the Inoue-Cardenas Show in Las Vegas

Canelo-Alvarez-Upends-Dancing-Machine-William-Scull-in-Saudi-Arabia
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Canelo Alvarez Upends Dancing Machine William Scull in Saudi Arabia

Rolly-Romero-Upsets-Ryan-Garcia-in-the-Finale-of-a-Times-Square-Tripleheader
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Rolly Romero Upsets Ryan Garcia in the Finale of a Times Square Tripleheader

Avila-Perspective-Chap-324-Ryan-Garcia-Leads-Three-Days-in-May-Battles
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 324: Ryan Garcia Leads Three Days in May Battles

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending