 Steward (right) says Lennox Lewis is still in great shape |
Emanuel Steward is confident Lennox Lewis would beat Vitali Klitschko in a heavyweight championship rematch. Klitschko claimed the WBC title with an eight-round stoppage of Corrie Sanders on Saturday and immediately offered Lewis the chance to fight him again.
Steward is unsure whether the former undisputed champion will accept the challenge but says Lewis, who retired this year, is in great shape.
"If he did come back now, he would do very well," said the legendary trainer.
Lewis beat Klitschko in controversial circumstances in what turned out to be the 38-year-old Briton's last fight.
 |  Because he is such a great talent, I begged him to take a rematch with Vitali Klitschko |
The Ukrainian was stopped in round six last June after suffering a nasty cut around his left eye.
Klitschko demanded a rematch in the wake of the defeat but was denied the chance of revenge when Lewis announced his retirement in February.
Now the new champion is hoping he can tempt Lewis back into the ring.
"I know he is a gentleman and everybody wants to see a second fight," said Klitschko.
Steward agrees and told BBC Sport he felt Lewis was wrong to end his boxing career when he did.
"I was hoping he wouldn't retire," said the American.
"I told him be very careful before you make a decision because that decision should be the final one you make.
"Because he is such a great talent, I begged him to take a rematch with Vitali Klitschko."
Lewis was at ringside in Los Angeles to see Klitschko claims the WBC belt from Sanders.
The former Olympic champion looked close to his fighting weight, prompting suggestions he is considering a comeback.
| I do know that the longer he stays retired, the more his skills will start to erode |
Steward said Lewis is still be a force but said the longer he stayed retired the harder it would be to come back.
"He is always going to stay in condition," said Steward. "But I shouldn't say whether he should stay retired or not.
"I do know that the longer he stays retired, the more his skills will start to erode."
Steward believes Lewis has not tired of the sport.
"When he retired, it was not a case of him having had enough of boxing but more due to the fact that he wanted to get married and do other things," said the trainer.
"And I know he is still enjoying himself."
MMIX
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