BBC SPORT | Lewis receives CBE

World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis collected a CBE at Buckingham Palace on Friday, and revealed he would need $30m to fight Mike Tyson again.

The 36-year-old, who already has an MBE, received the award from the Prince of Wales, and promised to forward a tape of his win over Tyson last month to the palace.

This is the perfect opportunity to retire

Lennox Lewis

"I am going to send him the tape," said Lewis. "He was asking me about the fight, so I'll show him what went on. He can see what this big man did."

Lewis was accompanied by his mother Violet, who flew in from Canada, his manager Adrian Ogen, and a friend, Osei Puko.

Lewis hints at retirement

He admitted he would be prepared to fight Tyson again, but felt the public and the television companies were not desperate for a rematch.

"People don't want to see that again because of the way I destroyed him," said Lewis. "People felt sorry for him.

England cricket captain Nasser Hussain
Hussain has seen England's fortunes improve
"He's already put in a bid for a rematch but it's up to the TV companies - if they don't pay $30m, I will retire.

"This is the perfect opportunity to retire, and it's the pending question.

"Retirement is definitely floating around as an option for me, but we will have to see."

Also honoured on Friday was England cricket captain Nasser Hussain, who collected an OBE.

Hussain asked to stay at helm

The 34-year-old then raced to Lord's to practise for Saturday's final in the NatWest one-day series against India.

"This is a very special day for me, but it's really an award for the whole team.

"It shows people do care what we're doing and it means the team is doing some great work.

"With the exception of our play against Australia, we're generally on the up."

And unlike Lewis, the England cricket captain would not be drawn on retirement.

"It's beyond all expectations," he said. "When I got my first game for England, I thought I was on top of the world, so this is just amazing.

"But I'm enjoying my game and will just see how it goes in the future."


	Links to more Sport Front Page stories