Recently I donated money to the establishment of the Muhammad Ali Foundation in Louisville. I regard that as a kind of payback. He smoothed the way for us. He wasnยt just a great person who had conviction, but made the sport of boxing great. He was the first superstar, he made our stock rise. Without him we wouldnยt have earned so much. Americans from every walk of life have contributed to the foundation: Bill Clinton, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt. Unfortunately I was the only American athlete to make a donation. Thereยs not enough respect in our business.
Lennox LewisI have always been English, ever since I emigrated from England and since the kids in Canada beat me up at the age of twelve for having an East London Cockney accent. I thank them for the cockney taunts because the beatings turned me on to boxing. But on a serious note Canada has been kind to me.
Lennox LewisA great champion needs a background in amateur boxing, Iย'm convinced of that. There you learn everything that youยll need later as a pro. Someone whoยs got more than 400 amateur fights behind him no longer gets nervous before going into the ring and doesnยt lose his nerve during a fight. You know all the boxing styles, youยre prepared for anything, youยve got the pedigree that you need to be a successful pro.
Lennox LewisThe media can make boxers, controls who makes it big and who doesnยt. They can build up fighters or knock them down.
Lennox LewisIt's a very interesting fight [Klitchko vs Tyson Fury] because this is the first time [Wladimir] Klitschko is fighting someone as big as him and with longer arms. He will have to be a little bit more aggressive, otherwise the younger guy will have more speed and more energy and I think that may be the difference.
Lennox Lewis