Heavyweight boxing legend Lennox Lewis responded to his former rival’s callout at the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson event.
Lennox Lewis is regarded by many as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. His career wins over Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Tommy Morrison made him a household name during his illustrious run in the ring.
Lewis, 59, retired from professional boxing after a win over Vitali Klitschko in June 3003. He retained his heavyweight belts and walked into the sunset, and since walking away, hasn’t hinted at a potential comeback.
But the door opened to a potential Lewis comeback after Holyfield, who made his return to the ring in 2021, called him out for a trilogy bout. The two heavyweight greats fought twice in their careers.
Lennox Lewis answers Evander Holyfield’s trilogy callout
In a recent interview with Mail Sport, Lewis answered Holyfield’s fight callout.
“I don’t think so, that’s nice of him that he wants to get back in the ring with me, but I’m not really pushing to get back in the ring with him,” Lewis replied to Holyfield.
Lewis didn’t specify if he’d entertain a boxing comeback against an alternate opponent, but as of this writing, he remains content in retirement more than 20 years since his last appearance in the ring.
Holyfield returned in a short-notice exhibition bout against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort in 2021. After filling for the ill Oscar De La Hoya, Holyfield lost in the first round by TKO, and the fight drew an uproar from concerned fans.
Lewis and Holyfield first fought one another in March 1999, with the fight resulting in a split draw. In their rematch eight months later, Lewis earned the unanimous decision victory to retain his belts and win Holyfield’s WBA and IBF titles.
Holyfield recently pitched a trilogy with Tyson after the latter’s defeat to Jake Paul, but Tyson politely declined the offer.
Lennox Lewis, 59, shuts down Evander Holyfield trilogy
Lewis and Holyfield are two of the all-time icons in heavyweight boxing. In addition to both men beating Tyson in the ring, they helped keep the heavyweight division afloat after the sharp decline of Tyson and other legends.
Holyfield and Tyson aren’t the only heavyweight legends to return to the ring at advanced stages of their lives. Roy Jones Jr. wants a shot at Paul after falling by majority decision to former UFC star Anthony Pettis last year.
While most boxing fans aren’t exactly clamoring for Lewis and Holyfield to square off for the third time, it appears that fight talks have hit a wall after Lewis’ response. For now, both heavyweight greats remain on the sidelines as the division turns a new page entering 2025.