Lewis does indeed retire **update**

[Paranoid Rattlesnake]

bbc.co.uk

World heavywieght champion Lennox Lewis is ready to announce his retirement on Friday, reports BBC Radio Five Live.


The 38-year-old Briton has not fought since June last year, when he stopped Vitali Klitschko.

He has been under pressure to decide on his future and the WBC set Lewis a deadline of 1 March to confirm a rematch with the Ukrainian.

Sources in the United States claim Lewis has decided to end his 14-year career after 44 fights. Lewis is expected to hold a press conference in London on Friday. Duke McKenzie, a former world champion at three weights, told Five Live: "This news hasn't come as a great surprise to the boxing fraternity.



"Lennox has earnt a hell of a lot of money from boxing and he doesn't have anything more to prove to anyone now and it is the right decision.

"He had nothing to gain from a rematch and everything to lose.

"He's beaten everybody that's been worth beating in that division - Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, David Tua to name but a few. "Everyone close to Lennox has urged him to retire and I, as a Lennox Lewis fan, am certainly glad he has decided to do just that."