
The last former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis, discusses his new career as an HBO commentator and shares his thoughts on the heavyweight division as he talks about Wladimir Klitscko's win over Lamon Brewster, Vitali Klitschko's comeback against Jameel McCline and why he thinks some of today's heavyweights need a little help. Plus, check out his take on Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s win over Oscar De La Hoya and who he thinks the undefeated pound-for-pound king should fight next.
PC: How have you been doing champ?
LL: I'm doing good.
PC: You look like you've settled into your role as an HBO commentator. How is that going for you?
LL: I like it. I'm able to give my views on what's happening. Sometimes the commentators are saying things, but I've actually lived it and done it, so I recognize certain things that I think the public really hears me.
PC: You are into the commentating side of boxing now. Would you ever like to train fighters?
LL: Oh yeah. Every time I step into the gym, I'm always training somebody. I'm just trying to give as much information as I can to anyone there available to it. I've also seen the fact that there are a lot of boxers out there that need a lot of help, but don't have the right tutelage or the right trainers. I know a lot of boxers out there that don't want to give up their amateur trainers and seek professional ones. I don't blame them because I was in that boat too.
PC: Wladimir Klitschko just defeated Lamon Brewster. Do you think that fight was too quick for Lamon after the layoff and what did you think of Wladimir's performance?
LL: I thought Wladimir did what he had to do. Basically he didn't have the competition in front of him that would've tested him. Lamon Brewster in the first fight was definitely not the same Lamon Brewster in the second fight. That's what made it difficult for Lamon. It's tough to judge Wladimir off of these fights because he needs better competition.
PC: Is it tough for you to sit ringside and watch the heavyweight division go through turmoil, being the last heavyweight that fans could identify with?
LL: That's a good question because I have actually seen the turmoil at ringside and I'm saying, "Wow, I can't believe that's going on right now." There's nothing you could do about it. I wish I had 10 years to give back and then I would definitely jump in the ring, but I don't have those 10 years.
PC: Lennox, I'm sure in the back of your head you are thinking you can beat these guys?
LL: Oh yeah. I'm looking at these fights like, why should I jump in there and help these guys. They seem like they need help because they're not boxing the way they should be boxing; especially being on the heavyweight scene. Wladimir can't help it. He can only fight the guys that they put in front of him. He can only display his art to the skill level to the guys that are coming at him. He can't become complacent because he's having a lot of easy fights, so it's very important that he doesn't become complacent.
PC: Do you think Samuel Peter vs. Wladimir Klitschko 2 is the biggest fight that could be made in the heavyweight division right now?
LL: Samuel Peter has tried that already. Hopefully if his skill level has improved, then maybe, but Wladimir still has the style to beat him.
PC: What chances do you give Vitali's comeback after all of the injuries?
LL: I still think Vitali still beats Jameel McCline unless Jameel comes in and says he really wants to beat Vitali. Whether Vitali could make it to a fight or not is the question. You look at his history and his history is saying he can't make it no more when it comes to physical conditioning. It looks like the old injuries, or his past, have really affected his present and future.
PC: De La Hoya/Mayweather was supposed to be the fight that saved boxing. Do you think it lived up to the hype and what did you think of the fight itself?
LL: I don't think it was the fight to save boxing. It was a real contender. We were seeing a real contender, not that imitation stuff on TV; this was real contenders, two skilled guys, two real contenders and two proper combatants. You learned about them, you saw their background and you followed them all the way to the fight. I think that's what was so great about that fight. I think at this stage in their career, 10 times out of 10, Floyd would beat Oscar. You give Oscar those years back and that would make a different fight.
PC: If Floyd truly isn't retired, which many people feel he isn't, who would you like to see him fight? Someone like Ricky Hatton or Shane Mosley?
LL: I think Shane Mosley would be a great fight to watch. That fight has been heating up for some time and they're both great fighters. I think that would be a great fight that people would love to watch.
PC: Who would you favor in that fight if it was to happen?
LL: Floyd still has the advantage until Mosley really sits down, but it would be a good fight.
PC: How much bigger would Tyson/Lewis have been if they would have did a 24/7 series with it?
LL: (laughing) Yeah man, that's hot right there. We would've broke the bank. Although my fight was in Memphis, imagine if it would've been in Vegas; it would've been hot. There's a reason why it didn't happen, but it was still the biggest thing in Memphis since Elvis and Martin Luther King.
LL: Dude, my man I have to go because I'm driving fast on the motorway.
PC: No problem champ. I appreciate your time man.
LL: No problem. Cool!










