Lennox Lewis critical of the Klitschko’s

By Boxing News - 02/11/2012 - Comments

Image: Lennox Lewis critical of the Klitschko’sBy John F. McKenna (McJack): Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KO’s) has been speaking out lately about what he perceives to be the sorry state of affairs in boxing today, particularly the heavyweight division. Lewis never misses an opportunity to criticize the present World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s).

Lewis while acknowledging that the Klitschko brothers rule the heavyweight division, bemoans the fact that there has not been any upcoming talent to topple either of the Klitschko’s from their dominance in the heavyweight division. And though he admits that the Klitschko’s are at the top of the heavyweight heap, Lewis can’t help but snipe at them by saying that between them the two brothers don’t know which one is the best fighter. Apparently that is because the Klitschko brothers have staunchly refused to fight each other to determine who is the best between them.

Lennox boasts that he is continually asked by boxing fans if he plans on making a comeback. Lewis was quoted by Bettor.com saying:

“People keep asking me if I’m coming back because there’s only one fight out there the Klitschko’s can sell. But unfortunately for them, it’s against a 46 year old who retired 8 years ago and the answer is no, I’m not making a comeback.”

Lewis scornfully added: “Where are all the big guys? There are none – we are waiting for the next volcano to erupt, and I’m bored of waiting. It makes me sad when the biggest match up out there is Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio, a pair of lightweights.”

While Lewis is critical of the Klitschko’s the bottom line is that the epicenter has shifted to Eastern Europe for the dominant heavyweights of today. And while the Klitschko’s are not idolized in America they certainly are in Germany and Eastern Europe. The Klitschko’s never fail to fill one of the huge outdoor stadiums in Germany.

American trainer Teddy Atlas acknowledged when he began training current regular WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (23-0, 16 KO’s) that he had gone to Eastern Europe to find fighters who were willing to pay the price in training and hard work.

Lewis suffered only two losses in his career, one via 2nd round TKO to Oliver McCall in 1994 and the other a 5th round KO to Hasim Rahman in 2001. Lennox later went on to avenge both losses. One thing that is troubling to many boxing observers is that Lewis seems to go out of his way to offer advice to opponents of “Dr. Ironfist” in the hope of dethroning the current WBC champion.

Apparently eating at Lewis’ craw is the unfinished business he has with him. After he defeated Vitali due to a severe cut over Klitschko’s eye Lennox promised “Dr. Ironfist” that he would give him a return match. Instead of the rematch Lewis chose to retire and while there are those who defend Lennox by pointing out that he was 36 years old, Lennox had said just prior to the fight with Vitali that he would continue his career for years and just like fine wine he improved with age. It must also be pointed out that Klitschko who is now 40 years old is fighting at the top of his game.

Vitali undoubtedly learned a lot in his first fight with Lennox. It was his first fight at that level on the world stage. Lewis was only too well aware of that and even though he had promised to give Vitali a rematch, he reneged on that promise.

Further embarrassing Lewis was when Vitali went public with the media regarding the meeting he had with Lewis in which Lennox’s mother was present. After sizing up the huge Ukrainian Lewis’ mother squelched the idea of her son giving him a rematch. Vitali going public with that meeting is possibly motivating Lewis to give advice to Vitali’s opponents on how to beat him. And now that he is apparently past the age of making a comeback Lewis has no qualms about continually sniping at Vitali.



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