Thursday, July 3, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.
Lennox Lewis said Wednesday he would prefer to grant a rematch to Vitali Klitschko, but only if the Ukrainian agrees to be examined by an independent physician who could assure the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion that the fight can proceed on schedule.
If a return bout with Klitschko cannot be arranged, Lewis is willing to fight World Boxing Association champion Roy Jones Jr.
Either fight would be in November or December, likely in Las Vegas and on pay-per-view.
"I'm opting more for the rematch," Lewis said of facing Klitschko again. "I enjoyed that fight. It was a fight, we went at it."
Lewis won their first fight, June 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, by technical knockout following the eighth round. The ringside physician determined that Klitschko could not continue due to extensive facial cuts that resulted in 60 stitches.
"He was lucky," Lewis said. "I was going to knock him out. The last four rounds I was definitely winning and bringing on the pain.
"He definitely wouldn't have made it past the next two rounds."
Lewis is 41-2-1. Klitschko is 32-2.
Lewis said his representatives have been in touch with Klitschko and are adamant that he see a doctor of their choosing before the rematch negotiations begin. "We want our independent doctor to go in there," Lewis said during a conference call.
If Klitschko is deemed unavailable to fight later this year, Lewis will turn his attention to Jones, who is 48-1 and in need of an opponent of his own for a fight later this year.
"Me and Roy have talked on the phone," he said. "I'm looking into my options. His options are not that wide right now."
Lewis dismissed the possibility of fighting ancient ex-champ George Foreman, as well as International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd.
"I find him very amusing," Lewis said of Byrd, who was been speaking out on his own behalf of late, "and I feel a fight between him and I would be boring."
Lewis also defended himself from criticism that he was out of shape for the fight with Klitschko or that he was showing his own age (37).
"I think I did pretty well," he said. "I was training for one person (Kirk Johnson) at a certain height and weight and style, then I basically had to change on 10 days' notice (when Johnson had to withdraw due to injury).
"I think I was in good shape. It may have looked like I was tired but he was just as tired as me, and he was the one doing the holding."
Predictably, Lewis said he would win the rematch if there is one.
"I realize I've got more heart than him," he said. "I'm tougher than him."
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