By Dan Warren BBC Sport Online

Former world champion George Foreman says Lennox Lewis should quit fighting or risk ruining his reputation as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

Speaking to BBC Sport Online, Foreman said although no current heavyweight could match Lewis, he feared complacency could affect the British fighter.

"A guy like Lennox Lewis is so above the crowd," he said.

"This guy's the cream of the crop, he's one of the top three heavyweights of all time. I wouldn't lie to you.

"It's nice to have a guy in your time of whom you can make that boast.

"I don't think anyone can beat him now but himself."

Foreman said talk of an "elimination series", which would see the top-ranked challengers fighting among themselves to earn a shot at the title was an "exciting" idea.

But he said the proposal, mooted by Don King and Lewis himself highlighted the lack of quality among those trying to topple the WBC champion.

"It's exciting that a big middleweight is going to challenge for the title, it's got people talking.

"But I would like for boxing to be in better shape in the heavyweight division so people would say 'impossible'.

"I'd like to come back myself at the age of 55.

"Maybe Roy Jones will be the heavyweight champion of the world. I know that I could just lay on him and beat him!"

Foreman admitted there were many who would be surprised at the inclusion of Lewis at the pinnacle of a list of all-time heavyweight greats - but was adamant the British fighter deserved his place.

"You take any of the world's top heavyweights and say 'here's three of the best', you've got to put Lennox Lewis' name in there," he said.

"You say Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, you take any of those top names and you could put Lennox Lewis in.

"Lewis has nothing to defend. He is hands down the best heavyweight we've seen in modern times."