Foreman last fought in 1997

The American, who became the oldest boxer in history to win a heavyweight world title in 1994 aged 45, admits he would never get into the ring with Lewis.

But he will look to make a return if the Briton is beaten by Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles on Saturday.

"I'm very serious," said Foreman, who will be ringside on Saturday as an expert commentator.

"Get Lewis out of the business, I could come back tomorrow. He's too big, he's experienced and he has reach.

"I've been serious about this all along. I've told people for the last five or six years that at 55 I'm coming back.

"At my 55th birthday in January it's going to take a lot of persuasion for me not to come back. I've never given up my training, though I don't spar.

Have Your Say Should Foreman rethink?

"I figure no one should hit you for free."

Foreman is confident he would get a licence to box from the American authorities.

""I want to be examined properly by my doctors but I'm always given a clean bill of health," he told the New York Post.

Foreman won his first world title when he knocked out Joe Frazier in 1973 before losing it to Muhammad Ali in the 'Rumble In The Jungle' in Zaire the following year.

He was crowned champion again 20 years later when he stopped Michael Moorer.

The 1968 Olympic champion's last fight was in 1997 when he was controversially beaten by Shannon Briggs.