Lewis must take the Rocky road

As Lennox Lewis ponders whether to become the first heavyweight champion since Rocky Marciano to have the guts to walk away from boxing at the top, perhaps he should ponder the full implications of a fight which has been announced in the United States on July 27.

Larry Holmes, the Larry Holmes, is to fight a gentleman called Eric Esch at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Virginia, and the best seat in the house can be bought for the miserly sum of $50. If ever a fight threatened to debase boxing in the most awful manner imaginable, this is it.

Esch is otherwise known as Butterbean, a blubber mountain of a fighter who tips the scales at upwards of 25 stone and has achieved a decent living, not to mention cult status, by being just about the fattest man outside sumo wrestling to actually compete as a fighter. The sight is grotesque. On top of that, Holmes is 52 years old.

Holmes says he will "really, truly" retire after this contest, which beggars belief. Just how can a man who once, in 1978, shared the ring with Ken Norton in one of the greatest fights, and who fought Muhammad Ali and was one of the great champions of all time, demean himself in this way?

Some, such as Joe Louis, fought on because they needed the money; others, such as Ali and Holmes, were feeding an indomitable ego. Adulation is an intoxicating drug and Ali is one of many who have paid the price of addiction.

The desire of Ali and Holmes to carry on for too long should be a salutary lesson for Lewis. The champion, we are told, will take a couple of weeks to review his options before deciding whether to retire. Meanwhile, he is well justified in savouring the sweetest moment of his career - beating Mike Tyson.

He plans to return to London at the end of the week, when he is assured of a huge welcome. No British boxer has come close to matching his achievements, and his place in public affection is guaranteed after his stunning Memphis success.

"I am just fortunate Lewis didn't kill me in there," said Tyson yesterday. "I don't know if I can ever beat him if he fights like that. I might just go to New York and feed my pigeons on the roof."

Tyson should likewise consider quitting the sport which, sporadically, has been his life for upwards of 20 years, if he is not to risk being seriously hurt. As it is, who knows what long-term damage may have been inflicted by the wrecking-ball fists that Lewis thundered into his head for round after round?

Shelly Finkel, Tyson's manager, who has patiently tried to shape his fighter's life in the chaotic latter stages of his career, is believed to be trying to persuade him to think seriously about retirement. But, even now, financial necessity may force Tyson to continue.

Amazingly, it seems he will see little of the $20m (£13.5m) he was guaranteed for his beating, which goes some way towards explaining why he was almost pleading with Lewis for another chance.

Contrary to some reports, there is no watertight stipulation within the contract that there has to be a rematch. Lewis is free to fight whomsoever he chooses, which means Tyson could be forced into fighting lesser lights, such as the New Zealander David Tua, for a small fraction of the purses to which he is accustomed.

Some sources say as much as $9m of Tyson's purse will be deducted by his financier, the TV station Showtime, which paid off his tax debts and made a rumoured $5m advance to him before the contest. After fresh tax demands have been met, training expenses deducted and the demands of his entourage satisfied, he may be left with next to nothing. And, for good measure, his wife has petitioned for divorce.

Lewis has no such problems. But HBO, the TV Company which screens his fights, is sure to put pressure on him to fight on. After years of doubt and cynicism in the American press, Lewis was acclaimed almost universally and, with no new heavyweight ready to challenge his supremacy, HBO will be keen to cash in on his belated popularity.

Similarly Las Vegas, the city which missed out on a point of principle by banning Tyson, will be anxious that Lewis should fight there, if anywhere, if the traditional November big-fight date is put aside for a heavyweight title fight.

But Lewis should remember that the physical and mental strain involved in beating Hasim Rahman and Tyson must have been immense and he cannot generate that intensity of performance indefinitely. In Tyson, Lennox beat an old fighter who was not what he once was. Somebody, somewhere, will eventually have Lewis's number. Marciano knew it, and walked. Lewis should do the same.

Five fighters who hung around too long

Joe Louis

1914-1981

Record 64 wins, 3 defeats

The legendary Brown Bomber was world champion from 1937, when he beat James J Braddock, until 1949, when he retired after 25 successful defences. But he came back because of tax worries, and lost against the new champion Ezzard Charles in 1950, before being beaten by Rocky Marciano in 1951 in his final contest. Louis damaged his heart when he turned to wrestling and a major stroke meant he ended his days in a wheelchair.

Floyd Patterson

Born 1935

Record 55 wins, 8 defeats, 1 draw

Patterson won the Olympic middleweight gold in 1952 when 17 and became the youngest heavyweight champion in history when he knocked out Archie Moore in 1956. Lost title to Ingemar Johansson in 1959 but won it back from the Swede in 1960.

But Sonny Liston annihilated him twice and in 1965 he was given a 12-round pounding by Muhammad Ali. Lost another title fight against Jimmy Ellis in 1968. Developed Alzheimer's.

Muhammad Ali

Born Cassius Clay 1942.

Record 56 wins, 5 defeats

Ali suffers from Parkinson's Syndrome, believed to have been exacerbated by the effects of the punches he received. Won Olympic light-heavyweight gold in 1960, and became the first man to win the title three times between 1964 and 1978.

But epic fights against Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and George Foreman took their toll. Many believed he should have quit in 1975. But Ali's ego kept him going and he was humiliated by Larry Holmes in 1980 and lost finally to Trevor Berbick in 1981.

Larry Holmes

Born 1949

Record 68 wins, 6 defeats

Ali's sparring partner, who went on to win the WBC title in 1978 and to beat Ali in 1980. Was the outstanding heavyweight of the early 80s, but fought in Ali's shadow. Lost 49th fight and the title controversially to Michael Spinks in 1985 and walked out on boxing after being outpointed in the return. Battered by Mike Tyson in 1988 comeback. Lost world-title challenges in his 40s against Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall. Rich and apparently unaffected by his punishing career, he last fought only 18 months ago, but now plans a farewell against Butterbean at the age of 52.

Evander Holyfield

Born 1962

Record 38 wins, 5 defeats, 2 draws

Refuses to walk away despite staggering career earnings estimated in the region of $200m. Only Tyson comes close in financial terms, but he fights on saying it is his destiny to become the first five-time world heavyweight champion. Victory over Hassim Rahman recently has put him back in the running.

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