Champ Lennox to retire

Lennox Lewis has listened to his mother and tomorrow the world heavyweight champion is expected to answer her plea to stop boxing by announcing his retirement from the ring.

Violet Lewis, and the son who went on to become one of Britain's most successful sportsmen, are set to ring the final bell on a glorious career at a press conference to be held at a hotel in central London.

It is understood that Lewis has made special arrangements to fly his trainers and coaches from the United States so that he can pay tribute to their part in establishing him as the first British boxer in more than a century to win the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.

But pride of place on the top table will go to his mother who has remained his staunchest supporter throughout his rise from an Olympic gold medallist to be acclaimed as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

It was only after his last fight, a controversial victory against Vitali Klitschko of the Ukraine in June last year when Lewis suddenly began to look his age inside the ropes, that Violet expressed concern for his well-being.

For the past seven months Lewis has been under pressure from prominent figures within the sport, including his trainer Emanuel Steward, to defend the World Boxing Council's title in a rematch with Klitschko that was thought to be worth a £12million pay-day.