Lennox Lewis moved a step closer to a return to the boxing ring when he revealed that he could be tempted out of retirement for a £70m payday.
"If someone wants to pay me serious money, $100m or so, then I will fight again," he told the Mail on Sunday.
The former heavyweight champion, 43, has not fought since retaining his WBC title against Vitali Klitschko in 2003.
"I don't have to do this, I don't need money and my legacy speaks for itself. But boxing needs me," said Lewis.
"The heavyweight game is so boring now. All the characters are gone.
"It would have to be nearer $100m to make me say yes, but there are people out there who can get that kind of money together.
"There are a lot of people who would pay to see me fight again. It would be exciting, for the sport and for me. And if I come back it will be to win, not play."
Lewis insisted that he was not falling into the trap of so many before him, by coming back for the wrong reasons.
Instead, he said any comeback would be based purely on a love of the sport.
"Boxers usually come back or continue fighting for two reasons," said Lewis, who retired with a record of 41 wins, two losses and a draw.
"Either the atmosphere of the crowd or the money. Me? I don't need either, I'm happy as I am. "But I think the sport needs me and I love my sport. And I don't like seeing it the way it is. I would like to save my sport."
In recent weeks, heavyweights Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe have announced comebacks.
Vitali Klitschko, who himself came out of retirement to reclaim the WBC heavyweight belt last month, is a potential opponent should Lewis be tempted back.
But Lewis, in Las Vegas for Ricky Hatton's bout with Paulie Malignaggi, told Sky Box Office: "He should fight his brother (Wladimir) first, then I'll think about coming back."
"If someone wants to pay me serious money, $100m or so, then I will fight again," he told the Mail on Sunday.
The former heavyweight champion, 43, has not fought since retaining his WBC title against Vitali Klitschko in 2003.
"I don't have to do this, I don't need money and my legacy speaks for itself. But boxing needs me," said Lewis.
"The heavyweight game is so boring now. All the characters are gone.
"It would have to be nearer $100m to make me say yes, but there are people out there who can get that kind of money together.
"There are a lot of people who would pay to see me fight again. It would be exciting, for the sport and for me. And if I come back it will be to win, not play."
Lewis insisted that he was not falling into the trap of so many before him, by coming back for the wrong reasons.
Instead, he said any comeback would be based purely on a love of the sport.
"Boxers usually come back or continue fighting for two reasons," said Lewis, who retired with a record of 41 wins, two losses and a draw.
"Either the atmosphere of the crowd or the money. Me? I don't need either, I'm happy as I am. "But I think the sport needs me and I love my sport. And I don't like seeing it the way it is. I would like to save my sport."
In recent weeks, heavyweights Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe have announced comebacks.
Vitali Klitschko, who himself came out of retirement to reclaim the WBC heavyweight belt last month, is a potential opponent should Lewis be tempted back.
But Lewis, in Las Vegas for Ricky Hatton's bout with Paulie Malignaggi, told Sky Box Office: "He should fight his brother (Wladimir) first, then I'll think about coming back."
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