Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis has confirmed he is back in training, but fans hoping for a sensational return to the ring will be left disappointed. The British boxing legend, who retired in 2003 after a memorable win over Vitali Klitschko, has shut down rumors of a comeback, stating that his training is purely for fitness as he approaches his 60th birthday.
Lewis, with a professional record of 41-2-1, is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history, having defeated icons such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Frank Bruno. Despite whispers of a potential rematch with Tyson, who recently returned to the ring only to be convincingly beaten by Jake Paul, Lewis was quick to dismiss the speculation.
“Comeback? Nobody’s really made that offer to me to consider anything like coming back,” Lewis clarified. “I started training because I wanted to be in great shape by my (60th) birthday.”
The remarks came after Lewis initially teased the idea of returning during an interview with TMZ, where he expressed concern for Tyson’s health, saying, “Let’s hope his health is okay. You can’t see things on the outside that may be affecting you on the inside.”
Lewis recently attended the clash between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, which was a crossover event blending boxing with the world of influencers. Speaking about the match, Lewis acknowledged its appeal to a broader audience while drawing a sharp distinction between such spectacles and the purist form of boxing.
“To me, you’re talking about different events,” Lewis said. “Fans of Tyson want to see him back in the ring, and fans of a YouTuber want to see him in the ring with Tyson. The boxing purist didn’t feel OK, they didn’t feel it was the right thing to do. They were two different events.”
Lewis is expected to be ringside for the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk bout in Riyadh, a fight he believes will showcase boxing at its finest. He expressed optimism about the sport’s future, pointing out the stark difference between celebrity bouts and legitimate championship clashes.
While other former champions have tested the waters of comeback fights, Lewis appears content with his retirement. Having bowed out at the top of the sport two decades ago, his legacy remains untarnished. His decision to focus on health and fitness rather than a return to the ring highlights his commitment to preserving the legacy he worked so hard to build.
Though fans may dream of seeing Lewis in action once more, the heavyweight legend has made it clear: his days in the ring are firmly in the past. Instead, boxing purists can look forward to witnessing modern greats like Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk continue the rich tradition of heavyweight battles that Lewis once dominated.