Klitschko - Lewis' mum stopped rematch
Vitali Klitschko has revealed how Lennox Lewis' mum stopped him getting a rematch with the former world heavyweight champion.
Lewis beat Klitschko in June 2003 in controversial circumstances, retaining his WBC title when the fight was stopped after the sixth round in Los Angeles.
The Ukrainian had a deep cut above his left eye but led on the judges' scorecards when officials ruled he could not continue. In the referee's opinion the cut had been caused by a punch, which meant that Lewis was automatically declared the winner.
If it had been ruled that the cut had been caused by a headbutt, Klitschko would have won the title as he was ahead on the scorecards.
Plans for an eagerly-anticipated rematch never materialised, with Klitschko yesterday offering an interesting explanation for why that was the case.
"Lennox promised me but his mum decided he wasn't going to fight," said the 38-year-old ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi. "He invited me to London, without managers, he said he wanted to talk just together. I came to the room and his mum is there. We talked for two hours and his mum was looking at me and scanning me.
"After that I went away and he called me a couple of hours later and said 'Sorry, but no'. I felt it wasn't his decision, his mum decided. I tried to change his decision, but it's difficult.
Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against London-based Pole Albert Sosnowski on May 29, but a fight with Britain's WBA champion David Haye remains high on the agenda.
Haye faces the first defence of his title against American John Ruiz next month and Klitschko added: "I keep my fingers crossed that Haye beats Ruiz. Not because I like him, but I want his title and to shut his mouth.
"Maybe we (Vitali and brother Wladimir) will decide by coins who fights him. For Wladimir it is personal, but for me I want the title."
Date published :
10 Mar 2010 - 09:18:16
