2026-04-24 11:14:36
Lennox Lewis had to resist the temptation to make a boxing comeback.
The former heavyweight world champion retired from the ring in 2004 and admits that he needed “discipline” to ignore the lure of returning to the sport.
Lewis told Sky Sports: “Many times I felt like jumping back in the ring. But focus, discipline kept me out.
“Let me tell you it was hard. I wanted to retire and say I’m not coming back and it was hard to stay out of the ring. HBO gave me a job as a commentator and I was there in front of boxing again and I was trying to get away from boxing.
“I said I’ve done everything already, I don’t need to prove anything anymore. So I stayed out of boxing.”
Lewis is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of all time and is satisified with his standing in the sweet science.
He said: “That was my aim. From when I started boxing I said I wanted to be the greatest heavyweight.
“I wanted to be just like Muhammad Ali and win all the accolades along by getting up to the top, so if it was European, if it was British, if it was this, if it was that, as long as I won them all.”
Lewis became undisputed heavyweight world champion in 1999 and considers Oleksandr Usyk – who has replicated his feat twice – to be a worthy successor.
He said: “Oleksandr Usyk is a great champion, a great person, he trains hard.
“He’s done it all. He’s sacrificed. He’s got a great family and he deserves his flowers.”
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