Lennox Lewis finally agrees to Vitali Klitschko rematch 14 years after his mum blocked original re-run
Heavyweight pair will meet in a WBC exhibition bout that will take place in Kiev, Ukraine
LENNOX LEWIS will finally give Vitali Klitschko his long-awaited rematch at a WBC convention at the end of 2018, after his mum blocked the original re-run.
The heavyweight pair will meet in an exhibition bout will take place in Kiev, Ukraine, where the 46-year-old elder Klitschko brother is the mayor.
English hero Lewis, 52, beat Klitschko in 2003 with a sixth-round stoppage through a gaping and gushing eye wound.
Klitschko insists Lewis promised him a rematch instantly after the bout but claims he reneged on the deal after a 2004 meeting, with Mrs Lewis, and retired.
The Ukrainian politician was ahead on all three cards 58-56 and was gutted to have the contest decided on a cut.
Klitschko went on to win the WBC title that Lewis vacated by retiring but he always felt robbed of his shot at revenge.
In 2010, Klitschko revealed: "Lennox promised me but his mum decided he wasn't going to fight.
“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.”
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The WBC sent out an invitation that read: “Former World Boxing Council heavyweight champions Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko will return to the ring in a high profile exhibition during the annual WBC convention, which will be from September 30 to October 5 at the Fairmont Grand Hotel of Kiev, Ukraine.”