Lewis Back and Ready for More!

April 25, 2003

By Andre Courtemanche
Photos: Tom Theobald

World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis returned from what he says was a well-deserved rest and held a press conference to discuss his June 21 battle with fellow former Canadian Olympian Kirk Johnson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. While it remains to be seen if the long hiatus did anything for his physical well-being, those who are concerned need not worry. Lewis� legendary ego is alive and well.

I�m not really worried about whether Mike Tyson fights or not, I�m worried about myself,� he said about a Lewis/Tyson doubleheader, planned for that night, possibly being put on the shelf. �I�m the greatest heavyweight champion you�ve seen in a long while. I think that�s what people are most excited about anyway.�

Lewis, who hasn�t been seen in-ring since last June 8, when he demolished Mike Tyson, says that the reason he has stepped over some higher-rated contenders in favor of a Johnson match is simple. �I think Kirk Johnson is a more exciting fighter than Chris Byrd. Johnson throws heavy punches and he�s a knockout puncher. People don�t want to see a guy pecking away in there. They want to see a fight. They want to see action. They want to see sweat coming from your face when you get hit.� Emanuel Steward, Lewis� trainer agrees. �I felt that Vitali (Klitschko) brought more marketability to the table, but I felt that Kirk Johnson was a more dangerous opponent. He�s better coordinated; a very nervous type fighter, which means he punches very fast and has much more power. Vitali is a lot more clumsy and awkward and would be an easier fight for Lennox. Kirk has never really lost a fight. John Ruiz became very good at winning fights without beating people.�

While some would say that Chris Byrd has exactly the style to frustrate an aging Lewis, Steward continues to tow the party line. �I�m more excited about a Kirk Johnson fight than I am with Chris Byrd. The main reason we didn�t fight Chris Byrd was not because of fear. Chris has never done well against big guys anyway. One Klitschko beat him, knocked him down and threw him around, and the other was beating him until he hurt his shoulder. We�ll just keep fighting guys until the big fight with Roy Jones comes up and I think it will eventually.�

Lewis says he doesn�t care about who sanctions his next battle (he will only be defending his IBO title) because he is the linear champion until someone proves otherwise. He also claims that boxing fans will be seeing a lot more of him this year and perhaps even next. �I had time to actually rest and sit back and look at what�s going on and people are still crying out for Lennox Lewis. I believe myself that I�ve still got one good year. There�s still some work that needs to be done and I�m the man for the job. There is no higher heavyweight than me. I�m the king and people are excited to see me. Right now my body is telling me to get into shape and take care of the business at hand.�

And so, back in training goes the champion some love to love and some love to hate. If not for himself, then as a favor to Kirk Johnson. �He�s been around a long time, he�s had a great knockout against Lou Savarese. He�s well deserving of a shot. He�s very dangerous and it�s about time he gets a chance to box the heavyweight champion of the world. You can say that Kirk has been living in my shadow for along time. It�s about time the Canadian people see us in the ring.�