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In case you’re wondering, Lewis will not fight again

Fighters Network
24
Aug

George Foreman was 45 when his 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer made him the oldest man to win a heavyweight title in November of 1994.

A 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins has surpassed Foreman, dethroning WBC light heavyweight beltholder Jean Pascal by unanimous decision to become the eldest man to win a major title in May.

Lennox Lewis doesn’t turn 46 until Sept. 2. But just in case anyone is wondering, the former undisputed heavyweight titleholder has no plans of a comeback.

“No way. Been there, done that,” said Lewis, who is nearly eight years into his retirement.



A married father of three, Lewis spends much of his time chasing his children Ling, 7, Landon, 6, and, Leya, 2.

“I think my secret is two-fold,” said Lewis. “One would be my kids. The second thing is that I’ve accomplished all of my goals.”

Lewis made his assertions during Wednesday’s national conference call promoting Saturday’s vacant WBA “regular” heavyweight title bout featuring former Olympic gold medalist Alexander Povetkin (21-0, 15 KOs) against Ruslan Chagaev (27-1-1, 17 KOs) from Messehalle, Erfurt, Th├╝ringen, Germany.

Lewis will be will be a live broadcast analyst for EPIX for Povetkin-Chagaev, calling their fight from the network’s New York City studios.

“I think that it’s going to be a scrappy fight. You’ve got two guys that like to throw punches,” said Lewis, who shares the same birthday as Povetkin, who turns 32 on Sept. 2.

“They’re definitely going to be throwing a lot of leather in there. They’re similar size, they’re of similar age. So you should get a really exciting fight out of them.”

The London-born Lewis retired in at the age of 38 with a record of 41-2 and 32 knockouts in November of 2003.

Lewis’ last three fights were knockout wins over Hasim Rahman, Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko, respectively, in four, eight, and, six rounds — the latter on June 21, 2003.

The Ukrainian-born Klitschko was praised for his bravery during his loss to Lewis, giving the winner all that he could handle before their fight was stopped due to a large gash over one of Klitschko’s s eyes.

Vitali Klitschko turned 40 last month, and his younger brother, Wladimir Klitschko, is guided by Lewis’ former trainer Manny Steward.

Vitali is the WBC titleholder, and Wladimir, 35, reigns as the WBA’s “super” beltholder and also claims the IBF and WBO versions of the crown.

Wladimir has a 14-bout winning streak that includes 10 knockouts, and vitali a 10-fight winning streak that includes eight stoppages.

“As far as Klitschko is concerned, he was definitely my icing on the cake,” said Lewis. “But as far as continuing my career, you know, I’ve been there, done that.”

Showtime boxing analyst and former lightheavyweight titleholder Antonio Tarver stopped Danny Green in the ninth round of a cruiserweight fight last month.

Tarver (29-6, 20 KOs), who turns 43 in November, became the first man to stop Green, ending the loser’s winning streak at 10 fights.

Tarver had previously ended a 17-month layoff and a two-fight losing streak with a unanimous-decision victory against Nagy Aguilera in his heavyweight debut in October.

But Lewis will likely remain relegated to the ringside microphone.

Just ask Teddy Atlas.

“Leave him alone. He’s not coming back. He’s doing very good with his life the way that he is. He’s doing great. He’s healthy. He’s smart,” said Atlas, who trains Povetkin.

“He’s put his money away. He’s conducted himself like a champion outside of the ring. Leave him alone. He’s had a great career and he’s got a great legacy.”

Lewis lists being inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 2009 as another reason for contentment outside of the ring.

“When you get put into the Hall of Fame,” said Lewis, “people in the Hall of Fame don’t really come back.”

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]

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