July 2002
MOST RECENT NEWS ON TOP
JULY 35(July 31): Rock wants belts back!
By Hasim Rahman
Dear Lennox, It's been many months since you defeated me to regain the heavyweight championship of the world. In this time, I've made many requests to your representatives to return my championship belts to me. As you are well aware, every champion is owner of his own belts. You are now in possession of my WBC, IBF, IBO championship belts. These belts are my property. Therefore, I urge you to do the right and honorable thing. I urge you to show proper respect to the title of heavyweight champion. I demand that you return my belts to me. If you fail to return my property to me, I will be forced to take legal action. I will not accept your holding of my property illegally. I will do whatever it takes to get my belts back. Lennox, return my belts now! (Fightnews)
The Glass: Seems I was wrong about Lewis fighting Ruiz, seems like there is talking going on. Also seems I was wrong about an announcement in the upcoming weeks, since news came about a day after my news drought update.
JULY 34: Lennox not done yet!
By Scott Shaffer
Don't write off Lennox Lewis as retired just yet. Although the heavyweight champion of the world has suggested he might ride off into the sunset in the wake of his knockout of Mike Tyson, Fightnews.com has learned that Lewis' representatives are busy laying the groundwork for a fight between Lewis and a top contender. A source close to the situation confirmed that "heavy talks" were conducted over the weekend for a fight against John Ruiz, who retained his WBA title against Kirk Johnson on Saturday. No agreement has been reached, but from Ruiz' perspective, a bout against Lewis is very desirable, not only for the money it would bring, but also because it would allow him to avoid a fourth fight against Evander Holyfield. Lewis no doubt believes a fight against Ruiz would be an easy one, but it would bring him no closer to collecting all four of the major sanctioning bodies' belts because in order to fight Ruiz, Lewis would have to surrender the IBF belt. Chris Byrd, the IBF's mandatory challenger, also remains a possible challenger for Lewis, and the Michigan heavyweight and his team are planning to meet with Lewis' people later this week.
UPDATE: Byrd's attorney, John Hornewer confirmed that some discussions have already taken place for a Lewis fight. Byrd's leverage is his court-ordered right to demand the IBF conduct a purse bid on August 19 for a fight with Lewis. Of course, Lewis could vacate up the IBF belt rather than accept the results of the purse bid, in which case Byrd would fight someone else to fill the vacancy. Who that person would be is still unclear, but with Holyfield next in line followed by David Tua and Hasim Rahman, the elusive Byrd would have an easier time securing a belt if the Lewis fight does not pan out. Hornewer also speculated that Lewis may be speaking with Universum about a fight against one of the Klitschko brothers. (Fightnews)
(If you noticed, the date above was indeed July 34, which should actually read July 30. Just checking in case you were sleeping. That date will be left as is purely for "entertainment" purposes and NOT for profit, just like our images in our Multimedia section.)
JULY 29: News Drought: Expect an announcement for Lewis to fight either Chris Byrd or one of the Klitschko brothers in the upcoming weeks (Emanuel denounced the quality of John Ruiz as a challenger for the real title recently after Ruiz's ugly-dirty fight with Canuck Kirk Johnson, on Boxing After Dark).
JULY 16: According to the New York Daily News, Lennox Lewis threw a lavish party in London over the weekend to celebrate his victory over Mike Tyson. The 600-guest bash featured greeters dressed as Roman soldiers and reportedly cost Lewis over US $800,000.
Interview with Evander Holyfield By Francisco Salazar
What were your impressions coming out of the fight between Lewis and Tyson? I think Lewis fought an impressive fight. Whether Tyson was the legitimate contender is questionable. Lennox proves he's a legitamite champion and who he is. He fights other champions and contenders and not just one.
Do you think it was more about Tyson not fighting up to the way he's fought before also?
It's hard to say. Lennox was impressive because of his preparation for the fight. You can't take anything away from Lennox. Tyson was in against Lennox and he didn't allow Mike to do what he wanted to.
It was said had Tyson won the bout against Lewis, you were to have been his next opponent. Now that Tyson has lost, is there still a chance for a third bout against him?
It all depends what the cimcumstances are. My goal is to be undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. If me fighting Tyson would get me to the title, then fine. Had Tyson and I fought for the right to fight Lennox, yes I would have done that too.
What is your opinion of the state of the heavyweight division? We're now seeing a trend of bigger fighters who are 6'5, 6'6, 6'7.
Well, I've always felt that some of the big heavyweights of the division don't train as hard. There are always going to be guys that are 6'1, 6'2. If a big fighter wins, fine. I just feel that in this division, styles make fights. There could be fights that are easy for some and hard for others. Ruiz-Johnson could be one of those fights (July 27th) (Fightnews)