Lennox Lewis says he's staying retired

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is bobbing and weaving a recent report suggesting he's getting ready to return to the boxing ring.

On Sunday, the London tabloid newspaper The Mirror quoted Lewis as saying he was coming out of retirement to fight current champion Vitali Klitschko in November.

Money and silencing Klitschko are Lewis' motivation, according to the newspaper. The fight would have reportedly paid Lewis $40 million US.

Later Sunday, however, Lewis released a statement saying he was not making a comeback.

"I want to reiterate what I said when I retired in February 2004 that I was fortunate to leave the sport on my own terms and that I will be one of the few heavyweight champions in history to retire on top and stay retired,'' he said.

Lewis, a Canadian Olympic gold medallist who fought professionally under the British flag, retired last February with a 41-1-2 record. Klitschko assumed the title when he beat Corrie Sanders two months later.

Lewis' last bout was an encounter with Klitschko in June 2003. Klitschko controlled much of the fight, but Lewis was awarded a win after vicious cuts around Klitschko's eyes forced the referee to halt the bout.

While Lewis earned the win it was Klitschko who won over most of the crowd. The big Ukrainian left the ring to thunderous applause, while Lewis waked out to a chorus of boos.

Klitschko (40-5-1) immediately demanded a rematch, but Lewis opted instead for retirement. Since then, Klitschko has publically insinuated that Lewis retired because he was afraid to face him again.

"I've had to listen to a lot of rubbish from Klitschko and he is starting to get on my nerves."

Lewis watched the giant Ukrainian beat up Danny Williams last month. Afterward, Lewis said he "wanted to get in the ring and show [Williams] how to beat [Klitschko]."