Lennox Lewis' Legacy: Lennox retires

» NYCScribe - Lennox retires

Lennox Lewis, the first Englishman to win the heavyweight boxing title since Bob Fitzsimmons more than 100 years ago, has announced his retirement and promised to become only the third reigning heavyweight champion to retire and not come back. Rocky Marciano and Gene Tunney are the only heavyweights to retire and not return to the ring.

There was talk of staging a rematch between Lennox and his final opponent in the ring, Vitali Klitschko, but Lewis said he no longer felt the hunger.

"I am sad to hear that Lennox Lewis had decided to retire," said Klitschko, the top-ranked contender for the World Boxing Council title, the only title Lewis retained, "but I respect him for his decision. Lennox was one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time and I am very proud and honored to say that I was able to fight him. Lennox was a credit to the sport for many, many years and his presence will be missed."

Others were less kind in their assessments of Lewis' legacy. Larry Holmes, who, like Lewis, did not receive his due while heavyweight champion, said, "Lennox couldn't have carried Rocky Marciano's jock strap". The 185-pound Marciano "would have gotten underneath and tore Lewis up," said Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali's former trainer. "So would have Joe Frazier." As for Ali, or Holmes, "Lewis never would have touched them," said Gene Kilroy, a former aide to Ali. Emanuel Steward, who took over Lewis's corner after leading Oliver McCall into the ring for a 1987 knockout that was the first of the only two losses by Lewis, said Lewis "never dodged anyone" and correctly pointed out that "you can't fight in other eras."

Wherever he ends up being ranked in lists of boxing's all time greats, it can't be disputed that Lennox Lewis did win the heavyweight championship of the world, he did defeat other heavyweight champions who opposed him, and he did beat down many more men than beat him.

-- posted by NYCScribe