CHAMP HANGS UP HIS GLOVES

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-12986509,00.html ^

[gdyniawitawa]

CHAMP HANGS UP HIS GLOVES

Britain's world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has announced his retirement from boxing.

The 38-year-old is only the third heavyweight after Americans Gene Tunney and Rocky Marciano to quit while holding the title.

He has bowed out seven months after his last fight - a sixth round stoppage of Ukraine's Vitali Klitschko to retain the WBC title.

"It's not easy being heavyweight champion of the world. In fact it is very hard to achieve," Lewis told a press conference.

"It is even harder to keep and stay at the top. I am a person that believes that if you can't give 110%, you shouldn't do it."

He went on: "One of the reasons I am retiring is out of respect for the sport.

"It's time for the younger generation of boxers out there to make their own move to become heavyweight champion of the world."

Lewis used the event to reveal his engagement to long-term girlfriend Violet Chung.

The boxer, who was born in east London, finished with a professional career record of 41 wins (32 by KO), two defeats and one draw.

He took up boxing after moving to Canada with his mother Violet at the age of nine.

He turned professional after winning super-heavyweight gold for Canada in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

His greatest moment came in Memphis in June 2002 when he demolished Mike Tyson in eight rounds to retain the undisputed world heavyweight championship.

Before that he had lost and regained his world title twice.

Last Updated: 17:08 UK, Friday February 06, 2004

[presidio9]

Evander who?

(yawn)

[Pearls Before Swine]

Good for him. Boxing is like a continual morality play--very few fighters can quit while they are ahead.

[wireman]

He's afraid of Vitali.

He's turning down millions of dollars to fight a guy he's already "beaten".

Maybe a top ten all-time heavyweight, but just barely.

[libstripper]

My favorite former hevyweight champion is Rocky Marciano, precisely because he retired, and lived prosperously without any public scandal, only to have his life ended in a tragic plane crash. I give Lewis my highest praise, hope he prospers in everything he does from now on, ahd lives a long and happy life.

[misterrob]

Glass Jawed Joe he was. He was the best of a mediocre bunch and cold not take a punch. Heavyweight boxing sucks, in my opinion. They hold, the grab, they dance and wear out too quickly.

[carsonsig]

this was long overdue, he has been dodging quality fighters for like 3 years. a poor athlete who doesnt prepare for his fights, how else can he get knocked out by a scrub like Rachman?

[misterrob]

Well, Rachman can actually punch which is one of the things that make heavyweight fights interesting, meaning one punch can end a fight. Middleweights down to welterweight are the real action.....bantoms can throw a lot but no steam on them.

[wireman]

"how else can he get knocked out by a scrub like Rachman?"

Not to mention that all-time great Oliver McCall. And Ray Mercer kicked his butt too (even though Lewis was awarded a split decision).

[dead]

I miss the seventies - Ali, Foreman, Holmes, Frazier, and below them Norton, Quarry, Lyle, Shavers, etc.

Nothing but fat loads these days.

[humboldtconservative]

Maybe a top ten all-time heavyweight, but just barely.

Come on. He has beaten everyone he stood in the ring with. (With the exception of Viatli)

Do you rank Tyson higher?

[Gringo1]

And he is afraid that Vitali will not play around with him this time and hit him on that glass jaw of his and put him down.

If you do any serious research of his career, you will find that EVERY boxer who ever managed to hit Lennox Lewis knocked his ass out.

[humboldtconservative]

Maybe a top ten all-time heavyweight, but just barely.

How could Muhammad Ali lose 3 of his last 4 fights and still be considered "The Greatest"?

S*** happens!

[humboldtconservative]

If you do any serious research of his career, you will find that EVERY boxer who ever managed to hit Lennox Lewis knocked his ass out.

So he's even better than I thought? Only 2 guys ever hit him? WOW, that's amazing!

[Gringo1]

You two must be dating.

[humboldtconservative]

I just think he is better than you are giving him credit for.

[KantianBurke]

[Peter Libra]

Going to nit pick here- possibly deserve a light slap or two. My old hobby as misguided younger man- boxing history. James J Jeffries, born Carroll, Iowa about 1874, retired undefeated, as Heavyweight champion. Unfortunately he,under great pressure, came back after a six year hiatus. He met a humiliating defeat at the hands of Jack Johnson as a challenger. Reno 1910. I, long ago, changed interest to American Western history, 'er now about the death of Billy the Kid..... LOL.

[Peter Libra]

To self: Quit and stayed quit would qualify both Tunney and Marciano of course. Still long lived Jeffries deserves mention.

[wireman]

Great champs don't EVER get knocked out by palookas like McCall and Rachman.

A lot of great fighters lose their last fights because they can't walk away. Joe Louis comes to mind. What a fighter does in his late thirties has nothing to do with how he performed in his prime.

A young Ali would have destroyed Lewis within five rounds. If McCall and Rachman could hit him once, Ali would have hit him ten or fifteen times. With Lewis' Wedgewood chin, the outcome would be preordained.