Skip to main content

Lennox Lewis disses the top weight-class: For 100 million, I’d come back!

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Briton pines for another wave of greats

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has admitted that boxing’s top division is in a catatonic state whilst the Klitschko brothers run their rule over all the major title belts.

The 46 year-old, who reigned as champion for ten years between 1993 and 2003 before retiring on the back of a victory over Vitali Klitschko, is hoping that a spark comes through that ignites the heavyweight scene after years of dull fights involving the Ukrainian brothers.

"Right now, the heavyweight division is dead," Lewis told German magazine Stern.

"The Klitschko brothers and their opponents are just filling their (money) bags. Their opponents will not improve, they wouldn't have even made sparring partners for me.

"(Always) At some point, the referee steps in and stops the fight. They are boring.

"If you are looking to find the best boxer in the world it must be decided by an epic fight. Not this circus."

Lewis, who called himself ‘The Pugilist Specialist, has been goaded into returning to challenge the Klitschko’s since his first day of retirement and has continuously stated that he will never return, until a tongue-in-cheek remark in the interview.

"For 100 million, I'd come back. For that I would take off my pyjamas and go to the gym,” he joked.

The Klitschko’s currently hold the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles and have been pummelling challenger after challenger as they continue to dominate the sport’s biggest prizes.

Boxing needs a rude awakening in Mike Tyson’s ilk to return to a semi-healthy state, as long gone are days of the 1970’s when Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman were kings.

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...
Read more

Ashley Theophane talks US return, Ricky Burns sparring and future fights

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ training for August 24 return Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane is aiming to put the disappointment of his loss to Darren Hamilton behind him when he makes his comeback in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 24. The 31 year-old, who has fought some of the top fighters between 140 and 154lbs, planned to take 18 months out of chasing his world title dream to win a British Lonsdale belt outright and just fell short with points defeat to Hamilton in May after making two defences. The Londoner is now returning to the US to re-establish his headline status on American soil. He fights for the 38th time in his career against an opponent yet to be named at NC Music Factory’s Reelworks Studios and is currently preparing to get back to winning ways. “Training has gone well for this fight. I've been in the gym for nearly nine weeks so I'm in great shape and ready to go,” Theophane told World Boxing News. ...
Read more

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  (picure by boxrec.com)  After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway.  One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie ga...
Read more