by James Slater – It’s fair to say Lennox Lewis is not all that impressed with the current state of the heavyweight division. Now aged 44, the former undisputed king has even gone as far as to suggest that it might be as long as 20 or even 30 years before we see the next truly great heavyweight come along.
Though he has got behind fellow Brit David Haye, and has encouraged “The Hayemaker” ahead of his WBA title challenge of the huge Nikolai Valuev, Lewis has not committed himself and stated that Haye could be the next “shining star” of the division he himself achieved greatness in.
Speaking with The BBC yesterday, the former champ was asked what he thinks of the current heavyweight landscape; and Lennox ain’t impressed!
“The current heavyweight landscape needs help,” Lewis said. “It’s waiting for that next shining star – we’re just waiting. You could say it’s in the rebuilding process right now. We have to look to the future and hopefully, 20 or 30 years down the line, you’ll see some great heavyweight come along.”
Stunned by the timeframe Lewis suggested as a possibility for having to wait for further greatness in the sport’s premiere weight class, Lewis’ interviewer asked him, “you really think it could be that long?”
Is the heavyweight division in as poor a state as Lewis implies? And is the division in dire need of a new star to come along? Certainly, both Klitschko brothers, the two men who are looking pretty unbeatable right now, would strongly disagree. Okay, maybe Lewis is referring to the way the three men currently atop the division are not giving the fans exciting, all action fights, but to deny the Klitschkos the credit they deserve is surely too much.
Most fans will likely agree, though, that Lewis is the most recent heavyweight deserving the tag of all-time great. But both Klitschko brothers look to be around for a long while yet.
Lewis was then asked if David Haye could perhaps be the next star of the division.
“Haye is fighting an uphill battle, because there’s about four big guys he needs to get rid of first,” Lewis replied. “He’s got the ability but we have to see if he can actually do it. (To win) he has to move, he [Valuev] can’t catch what he can’t find. David has to pick on his weaknesses, and his weaknesses are speed and movement. He needs to be quicker and not let him hold him and put his weight on him.”
It’s all up to Haye now, and we will see if he can do the things Lewis says he need to do to win on November 7th.
As for any chance of making a return to the ring, Lewis had one word: No!
“I’ve achieved all my goals,” he said. “No, nothing could tempt me back into the ring.”
The former champ was grinning broadly as he closed the interview. Lennox has done all the fighting he needs to and he is fully aware of it. He may have to defend the statements he made about the current state of the heavyweight division, though.