Lennox rules out return

Lennox Lewis today categorically ruled out a comeback to the boxing ring.

London's former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world was reported to be considering a fight against Ukrainian giant Vitali Klitschko worth a purse of £21 million.

Lewis, who hasn't fought since beating Klitschko in June 2003 and who would be over 40 by the time the rumoured rematch took place in November, was warned by fellow Briton Danny Williams not to risk his health by returning to the ring.

But this morning Lewis counted out a return to big time boxing. He said: "I want to reiterate what I said when I retired in February 2004, that I was fortunate to leave the sport on my own terms and that I will be one of the few heavyweight champions in history to retire on top and stay retired."

That confirms what Lewis told Standard Sport last month after he had watched ringside as Klitschko battered Williams to defeat in Las Vegas.

Then he said: "I've retired, been there, done that. I proved all that I needed to prove." Indeed, he did. The former Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist became Britain's first undisputed heavyweight champion in over a century when he outpointed Evander Holyfield in 1999.

Three years later he defined his career by demolishing what was left of the myth of Mike Tyson. Then, in his last fight against Klitschko, he stopped the standard-bearer of a new generation of heavyweights.

In total Lewis had 44 fights, winning 41 of the them. Along the way he amassed a fortune estimated to have been worth £100 million, much of which has been carefully invested, so fighting on for money was never going to be an issue for him. There is a huge risk involved when fighters try to recapture past glories after a spell out of the ring when they haven't trained or stayed in condition.