HAMBURG, 1 November 2003 — Ukrainian heavyweight Vitali Klitschko believes he is the reason world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis may have decided to retire.
The German-based boxer said yesterday his controversial defeat to Lewis in Los Angeles in June may have persuaded the 38-year-old Briton it was time to step down.
Lewis has not fought since retaining his World Boxing Council (WBC) title with a sixth-round win over Klitschko when a deep gash over the Ukrainian’s eye forced the referee to stop the contest.
Lewis’ trainer, Emanuel Steward, has been quoted by Britain’s Daily Express newspaper as saying: “Lennox won’t fight again — I am as sure of that as I can be.” Klitschko said on the website he shares with boxing brother Wladimir that there was still a chance Lewis would step into the ring again. “If he has really decided to retire I am certain that it was my fight with him that has persuaded him to make this decision,” he said.
Klitschko is back in action next month when he faces Canada’s Kirk Johnson in a non-title bout on Dec. 6 at Madison Square Garden, New York. The winner will be Lewis’ official challenger, and Klitschko said the Briton will be watching the bout closely.
“Lewis had said in an interview that he clearly beat me but he stands on his own with this opinion,” Klitschko said.
“I saw the fight differently and experts and boxing fans have confirmed my views. Who is the better boxer? The public demands a second fight between us so that this question can be finally answered.”
