Cuts expected to delay Klitschko’s rematch bid

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 | 10:46 a.m.

Vitali Klitschko wants to fight Lennox Lewis again, but his medical condition may prevent it from happening yet this year.

Speaking on a conference call Tuesday, Klitschko reiterated his desire for a rematch with Lewis, who defeated him by sixth-round technical knockout Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Klitschko was ahead on each of the three judges' cards by two points when the bout was stopped by ringside physician Dr. Paul Wallace due to a deep gash above Klitschko's left eye.

That cut and four others resulted in Klitschko receiving 60 stitches from Dr. Pearlman Hicks, a plastic surgeon.

Hicks is recommending that Klitschko stay inactive for up to six months to allow the wounds to heal, which may preclude an immediate rematch with the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion.

"The doctor also has a more conservative estimate of three to four months," said Klitschko's adviser, Ron DiNicola. "(The rematch) should be the next fight -- the public demands it."

DiNicola said he may petition the WBC to order a rematch. Yet he and Klitschko are facing extenuating circumstances in their effort to get Lewis back in the ring: Lewis may, instead, retire, or he may choose to pursue a fight with World Boxing Association champion Roy Jones Jr.

"It will be real bad news for me if Lennox Lewis decides to retire," Klitschko said.

While Lewis, 37, might retire it's more likely that he'll attempt to get Jones in the ring in November in Las Vegas. If that were to happen, the rematch with Klitschko would get pushed into 2004 if it is to happen at all.

"I don't want to underestimate him and he's a great fighter, but I know I'm better than Lennox Lewis," Klitschko said. "I hope my next fight will be against him.

"But nobody knows. It's Lennox's decision."

Klitschko said he was disappointed that his fight with Lewis was stopped, as he felt he was still able to see and that he would have eventually won the bout.

"I feel it was the wrong decision," he said. "I understand the doctor was worried about my health and (the cuts) looked horrible, but I can see everything.

"The doctor gave a big present to Lennox Lewis. He gave him the world championship."

Wallace stopped the fight after examining Klitschko following the sixth round. The most damaging cut opened in the third round due to a punch from Lewis, a point Klitschko is not yet ready to contest in spite of some conjecture from his handlers that Lewis may have butted the Ukrainian challenger.

"I don't want to answer that," Klitschko said when asked about the head-butt claim.

He did acknowledge that the fight was the toughest of his career.

"Believe me, I never had a single cut in my (boxing) experience," he said. "It was a difficult fight. It's not easy to fight against the top man."

As for Lewis' claim that he would have knocked out Klitschko had the fight gone any further, Klitschko brushed the prediction aside.

"He's playing too much," he said, aware that the game often extends well beyond the final bell."