17.11.08 – by James Slater – The plot thickens with regards to the possibility of a Lennox Lewis comeback. Not only has the man who is seemingly desperate to get Lewis back in the ring, Vitali Klitschko, claimed this past Sunday that Lennox is currently giving the idea of coming back some serious thought, but Lewis’ former trainer Emanuel Steward has just come out and said he is in favour of a return by the former heavyweight king..
Speaking with UK newspaper The Guardian recently, the Hall of Fame trainer said his former fighter and the current WBC heavyweight champion have “unfinished business.”
“Vitali knows more than me [about Lewis coming back or not coming back], but I’d love to see them finish those last six rounds,” Steward told The Guardian. “There’s unfinished business that needs to be put to rest. It’s like watching a movie and then the camera stops. You want to see the end so badly. It was so unfortunate, it was real dramatic. Lennox does seem very happy in his retirement but you can never tell. The final chapter needs to be written.”
Emanuel is referring, of course, to the great fight Lewis and Klitschko had back in 2003, when a sensational slugfest was ended prematurely, after six completed rounds, due to severe facial cuts suffered by “Dr. Iron Fist.” Ever since then, a vast number of fans have been screaming for a second fight. Vitali wants it badly, even to the point of obsession. But would Lewis be able to get himself back in anything approaching top shape at his current age of 43? Steward thinks so.
“I don’t deal with Lennox any more but I see no reason why he couldn’t get back in shape in 12 weeks,” Steward said. “But Vitali is a strange guy. He might not look so great and have Lennox’s moves but he’s very effective. Lennox was gaining momentum in the first fight but only after the cuts. They should start from round 7 – I would love to see it.”
So too would a lot of fight fans. However, taking the opposing view, a number of people are against a Lewis return. They are concerned that the 43-year-old will come back, get himself beaten, and ruin a great legacy. Lennox is a very smart man, who would shock many if he were to return. But time will tell – it just may be that 37-year-old Vitali Klitschko will get the fight he’s been dreaming about for over five years!