Champion swithers over retirement or rematch

Published on Monday 10 June 2002 01:00

WITH one devastating knockout victory over Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis earned the respect he craved, the place in boxing history he has ached for and more than $17million.

So what’s next for Britain’s heavyweight world champion? Perhaps retirement. Perhaps a rematch. Perhaps neither.

Basking in the afterglow of his emphatic eighth-round knockout win, Lewis was non-committal about his future, saying he would take time to revel in his victory and then announce his plans in a couple of weeks.

Asked directly if he could retire, Lewis replied: "There’s always the possibility."

During the long build-up to Saturday’s fight, Lewis had stated he felt a victory over Tyson would cement his boxing legacy and leave little left for the 36-year-old to prove. But given his stunning performance against Tyson, a jubilant Lewis gave every indication that he may not yet be finished with the ring.

"If the people want to see it again [a fight with Tyson], if they can’t believe it the first time, there’s always that possibility," said Lewis, after successfully defending his WBC and IBF crowns.

In the aftermath of the fight, it was clear a huge weight had been lifted off Lewis’s shoulders, the Briton believing he had finally earned the recognition and respect that had been continually denied him throughout his career, particularly in the United States.

The convincing win improves Lewis’s record to 40-2-1 (31 knockouts), but more importantly, the clinical and savagely impressive manner of the victory confirmed his place among the greatest heavyweights in boxing history.

"What more do you guys want me to do?" questioned Lewis. "It’s been a great, long road and I finally completed what I wanted to do."

Despite being battered, bloodied, and humbled by Lewis, Tyson left no doubt that his career was far from over.

"If you pay me enough money, I’ll fight a lion," he said.

Tyson, reportedly 10million in debt, is already asking for another title shot.

Evander Holyfield has also stated an interest in fighting Lewis for a third time, and his recent win over Hasim Rahman keeps him in contention along with Chris Byrd, the IBF’s No1 contender, John Ruiz, the WBA champion, and WBO champion Vladimir Klitschko.