Lewis Sidesteps Klitschko

Aidan Monaghan

10.07 - In an interview with SKY Sports, Lennox Lewis revealed Monday that he is not interested in a championship bout with emerging heavyweight superstar Wladimir Klitschko stating that such a fight would be a "waste of my time", that Klitschko isn't "tough enough" and thus he would "knock him out". In a response released on the internet, Klitschko asserted his desire for Lewis to face him in the ring - and at the chessboard - before he decides to finally retire.

Examining the many potential directions that Lewis' career could potentially go - including retirement - along with fighting the winner of the upcoming WBA heavyweight championship bout between John Ruiz and Kirk Johnson, a fight with Klitschko, widely regarded as the heir to Lewis' throne, seems to be the only compelling matches for Lewis. Rematches with Holyfield and Tyson do not seem to be viable options for Lewis as he earned convincing victories over each. Lewis' latest comments regarding Klitschko seem in stark contrast to the enormous praise heaped upon Klitschko by Lewis' trainer Emanuel Steward to national television audiences while covering recent Klitschko bouts. However, following Klitschko's decimation of Ray Mercer Steward seemed to back away from any discussions regarding a Klitschko bout, based on Klitschko's supposed inexperience against elite fighters.

One needs to ask, did inexperience or a perceived lack of "toughness" prevent Lewis from granting Michael Grant a title bout ? Indeed, it can be argued that a bout with Lewis did not materialize for Grant until his technical flaws were exposed by Andrew Golotta. However, in defense of Lewis he has been accommodating to boxing's rising "young guns" over the years. In the past he has faced then emerging and seemingly dangerous stars Tommy Morrison and David Tua as well as the afore mentioned Grant. And lets be honest, Lewis has earned the luxury of being able to be selective at this stage of his career having defeated all of his peers of his generation.

However, with respect to the formidable Klitschko, is Lewis being selective or ... evasive ?