Wembley is being earmarked as a spectacular venue for the mother of all heavyweight comebacks.
The chance of making history with the first world title fight in the new stadium is intensifying the temptation for Lennox Lewis to renege on his vow never to return to the ring.
Leading British promoter Frank Warren has been alerted by insiders in the United States that Lewis is pondering a championship rematch with Vitali Klitschko.
Warren is identifying potential Wembley dates between late September and early November and preparing a purse bid which "could easily yield $25million for Lennox alone".
Warren adds: "I would expect a live gate of between 60,000 and 75,000 spectators for a trans-Atlantic pay-per-view fight with a total worth of anything from $50m to $75m."
Lewis, 41, hung up the gloves as Britain’s reigning three-time world champion three years ago, eight months after defeating Klitschko in a bloody battle in Los Angeles.
He swore he would stay retired but Bob Arum, the legendary American promoter, told me on Friday: "Lennox has been discussing with his pals at HBO the prospect of a one-off world title re-match with Klitschko.
"No matter how often a boxer says he will never come back, the money always talks louder in the end if the offer is big enough. I am told Lennox is back in the gym and this is an enormous fight in the making."
Arum has an eye to promoting the event in Las Vegas or New York’s Madison Square Garden. Historic though those venues are, they do not come close to Wembley’s huge crowd capacity.
Two events in January kicked off the buzz in America about a Lewis- Klitschko fight restoring credibility to boxing’s fragmented and chaotic flagship division.
Klitschko, having followed Lewis into retirement after defeating Corrie Sanders for the vacant WBC title and then severely beating Britain’s Danny Williams in his only defence, suddenly went back on his own promise not to fight again.
Then Lewis failed to make his expected appearance as a ringside commentator in Las Vegas for Ricky Hatton’s world light-welterweight championship victory over Juan Urango, hardening speculation that he was back in training.
The WBC, keen to crown a highprofile heavyweight, immediately gave Klitschko dispensation to bypass their rankings and challenge Russia’s Oleg Maskaev as "a champion emeritus".
That proposed fight, in Moscow on April 23, is being protested by the WBC’s No 1 contender, America’s Samuel Peter, who has already turned down a $2.5m offer in stepaside money.
However, Peter’s promoter Dino Duva now expects a financial compromise to be reached as early as next Tuesday and says: "Sam is bitterly disappointed but this is business."
Peter is seeking a guarantee that he would meet the winner this summer but Klitschko would be favourite to win both fights and be ready to defend against Lewis in late autumn.
The WBC are eager to sanction an event of that magnitude, with president Jose Sulaiman saying: "Lennox has been one of our great champions and a wonderful ambassador for boxing and our organisation. We would give him the same emeritus status as Vitali."
Warren says: "It appears to us that this rider to the WBC regulations would even allow Klitschko to go straight to Lennox if they wanted."
As Klitschko was announcing his comeback, Lewis was sighted in a tracksuit, having trimmed off "a significant amount" of extra poundage in the build-up to a television advertisement before Christmas.
Then, on February 4, Klitschko made a surprise appearance at the Super Bowl in Miami, where Lewis has his principal home.
The pair, reportedly having talked by telephone in the preceding weeks, are believed to have met there.
Now Klitschko says: "I remind you that I always said I would only come out of retirement if there could be a re-match with Lennox and I am hopeful that he will come back also."
Their 2003 fight ended in the sixth round with Klitschko complaining he could have continued despite horrific cuts around both eyes.
Lewis was behind on most scorecards. It seemed he was beginning to impose himself and blamed his slow start on Klitschko being a late, southpaw replacement after he had prepared for an easier, interim defence against the orthodox Kirk Johnson.
Even so, I was among many at ringside who counselled Lewis to retire as only the third reigning champion in heavyweight history, with his legend intact.
It took him eight months to reach that decision and, like Klitschko, he is still nagged by a sense of unfinished business.
In addition to the complication of the hard-punching Samuel Peter there are other obstacles to be overcome, not least opposition to a comeback from the two ladies in his life with the same name, Violet his wife and Violet his mother.
Publicly, Lewis is reaffirming his retirement. However, hefty legal bills in America have put a significant dent in his fortune and he now has a young family to maintain in the lavish style to which they are all accustomed.
Twenty-five million dollars would replenish the funds required for the luxury home in Miami, the residences on the beachfront in Jamaica and the outskirts of London, to which he makes regular visits, and his mother’s house in Canada, the country for which he won Olympic gold.
Since retiring, Lewis has dabbled intermittently with music production and opened but then closed a learning and boxing academy for underprivileged youngsters in east London, as well as working as a broadcaster.
He was seen recently entering the main event in the World Poker Championships in Las Vegas, only to be eliminated on the first day.
This is not to suggest he is following Mike Tyson and so many ex-champions to skid row — far from it — but the financial incentive is more powerful now.
HBO, for whom he works as a commentator, would be excited by a comeback, although Kerry Davis, their executive with responsibility for boxing, says: "As of now we have not had a formal approach about a Lewis fight. Until we do, we cannot take an official position."
There will be concerns beyond his immediate family for the physical dangers inherent in prizefighting by the over-40s but Lewis would be by no means the oldest heavyweight champion were he to defeat Klitschko a second time.
That record belongs to George Foreman who, in 1994 at the age of 45, won the title for a second time by knocking out Michael Moorer.
Only two years ago, the man who was on the wrong end of Muhammad Ali’s fabled Rumble in the Jungle back in the mists of distant time had to be prevented by his wife from embarking on another comeback — at 55, no less!
Lewis shares the honour of having held the world championship three times with just two other heavyweight greats.
One is Ali. The other is Evander Holyfield, who has gone one better with four and is still fighting on beyond 40 in the hope of a fifth crown.
The other risk to Lewis is that he might tarnish his legend, one polished to a dazzling shine by epic victories over Riddick Bowe, Holyfield and his ultimate, overwhelming beating of Tyson.
Many voices now will urge Lewis to continue enjoying his retirement but the siren call of a massive pay-out, fame’s spotlight and the sheer, adrenalin fuelled thrill of the fight before thousands of baying fans is immensely powerful.
He will agonise over this decision but the added excitement of a mass turn-out at the new Wembley is proving monstrously difficult to resist.
Remember, also, one of the enduring maxims of this hard old game: With the exception of the undefeated Rocky Marciano — the only heavyweight champion ever to retire with the world title never to return — they always come back.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
IT was the bloody fight which critics said marked the end of his reign. World champion Lennox Lewis was on the verge of losing his crown to Vitali Klitschko with the Ukrainian leading by four rounds to two of their amazing battle in Los Angeles in June 2003.
But Lewis’s right hand had opened up gut-wrenching wounds around Klitschko’s left eye which later required 60 stitches. The doctor stepped in to call a halt and Lewis was saved.
As Jeff Powell reported: "Lewis, who had slumped on to his stool at the end of the sixth like a sack of coal falling off the back of a truck, had just about enough strength to rise and celebrate his retention of the world heavyweight championship, but more than 15,000 fight fans knew how close Britain’s holder of the WBC and IBO titles had come to blowing his exalted place in boxing history."
Having been battered by a contender he expected to hammer, Lewis knew he should quit before it was too late. At 41, he is making a comeback.
LENNOX LEWIS: THE STORY SO FAR
Career record: 44 fights, 41 wins, 32KOs, 2 defeats, 1 draw.
1965: Born London, Sept 2.
1983:Wins World Junior Championship gold medal.
1984: Olympic silver for Canada in Los Angeles.
1988: Olympic gold at Seoul.
1989: Victory in professional debut over Al Malcolm.
1993: Declared WBC champion.
1997: Wins WBC title with victory over Oliver McCall.
1999: Becomes undisputed heavyweight champion after beating Evander Holyfield .
2001: Loses to Hasim Rahman in April but regains titles in November rematch.
2002: Defeats Mike Tyson with eighth-round knockout.
2003: Beats Vitali Klitschko in his last fight.
2004: Announces retirement, only the third boxer to do so while reigning heavyweight champion.
Personally I hope not.
The chance of making history with the first world title fight in the new stadium is intensifying the temptation for Lennox Lewis to renege on his vow never to return to the ring.
Leading British promoter Frank Warren has been alerted by insiders in the United States that Lewis is pondering a championship rematch with Vitali Klitschko.
Warren is identifying potential Wembley dates between late September and early November and preparing a purse bid which "could easily yield $25million for Lennox alone".
Warren adds: "I would expect a live gate of between 60,000 and 75,000 spectators for a trans-Atlantic pay-per-view fight with a total worth of anything from $50m to $75m."
Lewis, 41, hung up the gloves as Britain’s reigning three-time world champion three years ago, eight months after defeating Klitschko in a bloody battle in Los Angeles.
He swore he would stay retired but Bob Arum, the legendary American promoter, told me on Friday: "Lennox has been discussing with his pals at HBO the prospect of a one-off world title re-match with Klitschko.
"No matter how often a boxer says he will never come back, the money always talks louder in the end if the offer is big enough. I am told Lennox is back in the gym and this is an enormous fight in the making."
Arum has an eye to promoting the event in Las Vegas or New York’s Madison Square Garden. Historic though those venues are, they do not come close to Wembley’s huge crowd capacity.
Two events in January kicked off the buzz in America about a Lewis- Klitschko fight restoring credibility to boxing’s fragmented and chaotic flagship division.
Klitschko, having followed Lewis into retirement after defeating Corrie Sanders for the vacant WBC title and then severely beating Britain’s Danny Williams in his only defence, suddenly went back on his own promise not to fight again.
Then Lewis failed to make his expected appearance as a ringside commentator in Las Vegas for Ricky Hatton’s world light-welterweight championship victory over Juan Urango, hardening speculation that he was back in training.
The WBC, keen to crown a highprofile heavyweight, immediately gave Klitschko dispensation to bypass their rankings and challenge Russia’s Oleg Maskaev as "a champion emeritus".
That proposed fight, in Moscow on April 23, is being protested by the WBC’s No 1 contender, America’s Samuel Peter, who has already turned down a $2.5m offer in stepaside money.
However, Peter’s promoter Dino Duva now expects a financial compromise to be reached as early as next Tuesday and says: "Sam is bitterly disappointed but this is business."
Peter is seeking a guarantee that he would meet the winner this summer but Klitschko would be favourite to win both fights and be ready to defend against Lewis in late autumn.
The WBC are eager to sanction an event of that magnitude, with president Jose Sulaiman saying: "Lennox has been one of our great champions and a wonderful ambassador for boxing and our organisation. We would give him the same emeritus status as Vitali."
Warren says: "It appears to us that this rider to the WBC regulations would even allow Klitschko to go straight to Lennox if they wanted."
As Klitschko was announcing his comeback, Lewis was sighted in a tracksuit, having trimmed off "a significant amount" of extra poundage in the build-up to a television advertisement before Christmas.
Then, on February 4, Klitschko made a surprise appearance at the Super Bowl in Miami, where Lewis has his principal home.
The pair, reportedly having talked by telephone in the preceding weeks, are believed to have met there.
Now Klitschko says: "I remind you that I always said I would only come out of retirement if there could be a re-match with Lennox and I am hopeful that he will come back also."
Their 2003 fight ended in the sixth round with Klitschko complaining he could have continued despite horrific cuts around both eyes.
Lewis was behind on most scorecards. It seemed he was beginning to impose himself and blamed his slow start on Klitschko being a late, southpaw replacement after he had prepared for an easier, interim defence against the orthodox Kirk Johnson.
Even so, I was among many at ringside who counselled Lewis to retire as only the third reigning champion in heavyweight history, with his legend intact.
It took him eight months to reach that decision and, like Klitschko, he is still nagged by a sense of unfinished business.
In addition to the complication of the hard-punching Samuel Peter there are other obstacles to be overcome, not least opposition to a comeback from the two ladies in his life with the same name, Violet his wife and Violet his mother.
Publicly, Lewis is reaffirming his retirement. However, hefty legal bills in America have put a significant dent in his fortune and he now has a young family to maintain in the lavish style to which they are all accustomed.
Twenty-five million dollars would replenish the funds required for the luxury home in Miami, the residences on the beachfront in Jamaica and the outskirts of London, to which he makes regular visits, and his mother’s house in Canada, the country for which he won Olympic gold.
Since retiring, Lewis has dabbled intermittently with music production and opened but then closed a learning and boxing academy for underprivileged youngsters in east London, as well as working as a broadcaster.
He was seen recently entering the main event in the World Poker Championships in Las Vegas, only to be eliminated on the first day.
This is not to suggest he is following Mike Tyson and so many ex-champions to skid row — far from it — but the financial incentive is more powerful now.
HBO, for whom he works as a commentator, would be excited by a comeback, although Kerry Davis, their executive with responsibility for boxing, says: "As of now we have not had a formal approach about a Lewis fight. Until we do, we cannot take an official position."
There will be concerns beyond his immediate family for the physical dangers inherent in prizefighting by the over-40s but Lewis would be by no means the oldest heavyweight champion were he to defeat Klitschko a second time.
That record belongs to George Foreman who, in 1994 at the age of 45, won the title for a second time by knocking out Michael Moorer.
Only two years ago, the man who was on the wrong end of Muhammad Ali’s fabled Rumble in the Jungle back in the mists of distant time had to be prevented by his wife from embarking on another comeback — at 55, no less!
Lewis shares the honour of having held the world championship three times with just two other heavyweight greats.
One is Ali. The other is Evander Holyfield, who has gone one better with four and is still fighting on beyond 40 in the hope of a fifth crown.
The other risk to Lewis is that he might tarnish his legend, one polished to a dazzling shine by epic victories over Riddick Bowe, Holyfield and his ultimate, overwhelming beating of Tyson.
Many voices now will urge Lewis to continue enjoying his retirement but the siren call of a massive pay-out, fame’s spotlight and the sheer, adrenalin fuelled thrill of the fight before thousands of baying fans is immensely powerful.
He will agonise over this decision but the added excitement of a mass turn-out at the new Wembley is proving monstrously difficult to resist.
Remember, also, one of the enduring maxims of this hard old game: With the exception of the undefeated Rocky Marciano — the only heavyweight champion ever to retire with the world title never to return — they always come back.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
IT was the bloody fight which critics said marked the end of his reign. World champion Lennox Lewis was on the verge of losing his crown to Vitali Klitschko with the Ukrainian leading by four rounds to two of their amazing battle in Los Angeles in June 2003.
But Lewis’s right hand had opened up gut-wrenching wounds around Klitschko’s left eye which later required 60 stitches. The doctor stepped in to call a halt and Lewis was saved.
As Jeff Powell reported: "Lewis, who had slumped on to his stool at the end of the sixth like a sack of coal falling off the back of a truck, had just about enough strength to rise and celebrate his retention of the world heavyweight championship, but more than 15,000 fight fans knew how close Britain’s holder of the WBC and IBO titles had come to blowing his exalted place in boxing history."
Having been battered by a contender he expected to hammer, Lewis knew he should quit before it was too late. At 41, he is making a comeback.
LENNOX LEWIS: THE STORY SO FAR
Career record: 44 fights, 41 wins, 32KOs, 2 defeats, 1 draw.
1965: Born London, Sept 2.
1983:Wins World Junior Championship gold medal.
1984: Olympic silver for Canada in Los Angeles.
1988: Olympic gold at Seoul.
1989: Victory in professional debut over Al Malcolm.
1993: Declared WBC champion.
1997: Wins WBC title with victory over Oliver McCall.
1999: Becomes undisputed heavyweight champion after beating Evander Holyfield .
2001: Loses to Hasim Rahman in April but regains titles in November rematch.
2002: Defeats Mike Tyson with eighth-round knockout.
2003: Beats Vitali Klitschko in his last fight.
2004: Announces retirement, only the third boxer to do so while reigning heavyweight champion.
Personally I hope not.
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