What Is The Oldest That Lennox Lewis Could Have Come Back?

For sure Maaan, …with Lions printed all over. Perhaps owns another set adorned with chess pieces. King of the Jungle, get it…? God I kill me.

 

Lewis could've still won a belt in his early 40s IMO the division when Lewis left was a train wreck.

Today I watched Brewster get beat up and outboxed by Kali Meehan and receive a gift, you don't think Lewis could school the likes of Brewster ? Or someone like John Ruiz ?

 

Yes he could if he wanted too. I could see a very rusty Lewis out pointing Valuev in 06 with no tune up fight what so ever.

 

It'd be best of he avoided Wladimir Klitschko.

 

Vitali would have chased after him like a wolf chases a wounded deer. It would have been impossible for Lewis to avoid that rematch and keep face. I don't think he'd have won a rematch and he knew it too. Take the Klitschkos out of the division and he may well have been able to beat a Chagaev etc.

 

Lewis was a clever guy, he knew he had taken his title reign to its limit with a certain Mr Vitali on the scene, he managed to beat Vitali but a rematch i fear would have not gone in his favour, so retired as the Champ, joining a small group who ever did, and remains to this day the last undisputed heavyweight king.

Lewis had zero motivation to continue, he did not need the money, continuing would not have improved his legacy, in fact it would have tarnished it, he had his health, wealth and happiness, no slurring of words, no shuffling gait for Lennox Lewis.

 

IMO the latest Lennox could have come back and been the best again would have been no more than one year after his last fight. If he'd trained really hard he'd have got a close decision in a rematch with Vitali Klitschko. He may well have beaten someone like Nicolai Valuev a year or so later. As has been mentioned - Lennox was smart. Got out and stayed out at just the right time.

 

I'm assuming in this hypothetical he decides he doesn't care about legacy and just wants to fight, because coming back would only hurt his standing.

In this case, he could probably fight at a high level throughout his 40s. He's better situated than just about anyone I can think of to be able to do that. Pure boxer types with good technique can do well into old age. Big hitters can do well into old age. Why couldn't a guy who was a combo of the two and able to fight in either mode do well into old age?

Not sure how he's able to deal with Vitail again, or Wlad. Although who knows, Wlad's going to have really, really watch that chin if he fights Lewis.

I think he plays out like an old Foreman or an old Holmes did. Able to earn title challenges, generally loses them unless he scores a lucky KO, still able to stomp lesser fighters without issue, still capable of pulling off an upset.

 

Lennox Lewis retired when he did because he was done. Mentally, physically and in every other way, he was finished.

Lewis took Rahman to court to force a rematch. During that, his team said Lewis only had about three fights left in him. And that's how many fights he actually fought.

If Lewis had to return for whatever reason, he probably would've failed miserably because mentally he was done.

He knew when he needed to retire, and he did. There was a lot of pressure and MONEY to return, and he didn't even go back to the gym (like Marciano did) to see if he had anything left.

Lewis made his decision and that was it.

So, a comeback, after all that, would've been distastrous.

 

He could comeback today and win a belt if he wanted to. Yeah he is not beating a Tyson Fury.

 

Not long after the date he actually retired. But let's say I think Lennox through 2004 could be a dominant No.1 HW.
As far as I'm informed, Vitali entered for the fight with Lennox instead of Kirk Johnson (or was it someone else?), and Lewis was not prepared enough for the fight (shorter preparations).
In 2004, Vitali retired for the first time, and Wlad lost by knockout to Lamon Brewster.
That's how Lennox Lewis would end his career before the age of 40, certainly. But that's just guesswork, conjecture, and speculation, so it's a good thing Lewis retired when he did.