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Last Updated: Monday, 23 June, 2003, 01:54 GMT 02:54 UK
Listless Lewis can win rematch
By Danny Williams
British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion

Vitali Klitschko (L) hits Lennox Lewis during their WBC heavyweight title
If there is a rematch, there will be no problems for Lewis
Danny Williams
Lennox Lewis looked worse against Vitali Klitschko than when he lost to Hasim Rahman two years ago.

I am not sure he put in as much in training as he should have done and he has been out of the ring for too long.

It probably did not help Lewis that he had been down to fight Kirk Johnson, who is not the most threatening opponent, and he may not have trained too hard for him.

I don't believe he put on the excess weight in the last two weeks, as some journalists have commented.

I think Lewis just did not train hard enough, maybe because of a motivational problem.

From the beginning of his career he said he was on a mission and, after beating Mike Tyson last summer, that mission was complete.

I believe he should have retired then and even though he decided not to, some of his hunger may not be there anymore.

But Lewis wants a rematch now - I think the fire is back.

He may have to wait a while, because Klitschko's cut will not heal quickly and Lewis may have a tune-up.

I think now a rematch with Klitschko will be the way to end his career.

LEWIS V KLITSCHKO
The damage to Klitschko's eye was plain for all to see
If there is a rematch, there will be no problems whatsoever for Lewis.

I think after the Tyson fight, he thought he was unbeatable but after getting hurt on Saturday, he got a big wake-up call.

I believe it was the right time to stop the fight - Klitschko's cut was a big one and he had blood all over his face.

However, if I had been in Klitschko's position, I would have liked the referee to tell me I had one more round so I could have fought my heart out for three more minutes.

The referee seemed to make little fuss about the cut during the fight and then all of a sudden, he stopped it.

I am not a fan of Vitali Klitschko but he boxed better than I thought he would.

He is one of those guys that fights better than he looks. He seems quite awkward

Sometimes, styles clash. You would never have believed that someone like John Ruiz would give Evander Holyfield so many problems in three fights.

Klitschko may always give Lewis those sort of problems.

I would not like to speculate on who would have won if the fight continued - Lewis seemed to be coming into it more, but you never know.

HAVE YOUR SAY

But the way Lewis slumped into his chair at the end of the sixth round was scary to watch.

Regardless of how bad Lewis looked last night, I think he will still beat Roy Jones Jr.

Lewis is too big, too strong for Jones Jr., who can only survive against small heavyweights.

A final word about Audley Harrison's decision to go to America for the remainder of the year.

I think it is a really smart decision from my rival.

There is so much good sparring out there with heavyweights you may not have heard of, so it will do his career a world of good.




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