BOXING GREAT LENNOX Lewis says champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are to blame for declining standards in the heavyweight division.
In an interview with German news magazine Stern, Lewis slammed the Klitschko brothers for focusing on money rather than improving the standard of the division.
“Right now, the heavyweight division is dead,” Lewis said.
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“The Klitschko brothers and their opponents are just filling their bags (with money).
“Their opponents will not improve, they wouldn’t have even made sparring partners for me.”
Lewis retired in 2003 as the WBC and IBO heavyweight champion after defending his titles with a sixth round technical knock-out of Vitali, and says the division badly needs more exciting fighters to emerge.
Boring
The 46-year-old claimed the Klitschkos’ title fights, the latest of which saw Wladimir outclass Jean-Marc Mormeck, were a poor advert for boxing. Wladimir refused to apologise for making his fights look one-sided prior to the bout on March 3.
“At some point, the referee steps in and stops the fight,” Lewis said. “They are boring.
“If you are looking to find the best boxer in the world it must be decided by an epic fight. Not this circus.”
The ageing Ukrainian brothers hold all the major heavyweight belts between them.
Wladimir, who turns 36 on Sunday, holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles, while Vitali, 40, is the WBC champion.
Klitschkos to blame for 'dead' heavyweight boxing, says Lennox Lewis
BOXING GREAT LENNOX Lewis says champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are to blame for declining standards in the heavyweight division.
In an interview with German news magazine Stern, Lewis slammed the Klitschko brothers for focusing on money rather than improving the standard of the division.
“Right now, the heavyweight division is dead,” Lewis said.
“The Klitschko brothers and their opponents are just filling their bags (with money).
“Their opponents will not improve, they wouldn’t have even made sparring partners for me.”
Lewis retired in 2003 as the WBC and IBO heavyweight champion after defending his titles with a sixth round technical knock-out of Vitali, and says the division badly needs more exciting fighters to emerge.
Boring
The 46-year-old claimed the Klitschkos’ title fights, the latest of which saw Wladimir outclass Jean-Marc Mormeck, were a poor advert for boxing. Wladimir refused to apologise for making his fights look one-sided prior to the bout on March 3.
“At some point, the referee steps in and stops the fight,” Lewis said. “They are boring.
The ageing Ukrainian brothers hold all the major heavyweight belts between them.
Wladimir, who turns 36 on Sunday, holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles, while Vitali, 40, is the WBC champion.
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Boxing David Haye Dereck Chisora Heavyweight Klitschko brothers Klitschkos Lennox Lewis money grabbing pugilist Vitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitschko