***At 34, the newest world heavyweight champion has a couple of years to cash in on his titles and status. And in the first flush of victory, Lennox Lewis tells Gemini News Service how he rates the boxers he may meet in the ring early in the millennium.***

LENNOX Lewis is enjoying his newly-won status as undisputed world heavyweight champion by dealing verbal knockout punches to prospective opponents — particularly to former world title-holder Mike Tyson.

"If he can prove himself — that he's worthy to face me — then there's no problem," the 6ft 5 inch. 242 lb Lewis says of Tyson, notorious for his run-ins with the law, violent temper and for biting Evander Holyfield's ear in a 1997 bout

"I've wanted him ever since he came out of prison five years ago. but he avoided me. preferring to give up his (World Boxing Council) title rather than fight me. But I'll take on all comers, and that certainly includes Tyson," he adds condescendingly. "His style is made for me and I don't see how he'll be able to beat me. I'm just too big, too strong, too quick."

In fact, 34-year-old Lewis sees his boxing future as "Me knocking Mike Tyson out. and then knocking out everyone else who comes in front of me."

Lewis — world champion at an age when most boxers have retired — says he would also love to tangle with two giants: Michael Grant and Vitali Klitschko.

"Michael Grant may be bigger than me but he hasn't been through the wars I have, so if they want to put him in as a lamb to the slaughtering block, there's not a problem/ Lewis told Gemini News with a broad grin.

He offers the same disdainful opinion of Klitschko, the unbeaten 6ft 8inch Ukrainian who has won all 27 fights by knockouts.

These are what I call the

hurry-ups." comments Lewis. "They come up In a hurry and all of a sudden they feel they can step in against the kings. They need to go to school first."

Another opponent he says he would be happy to take on is his old rival ana former undisputed world champion. Riddick Bowe. Lewis stopped him for the Olympic gold medal in 1988. Bowe went on to win the profes-

sional world title while refusing to fight Lewis. Despite evidence of slurred speech and irrational behaviour, he now Is talking comeback.

"Listen, if Riddick wants to come back I'll give him a beating and send him home to his mother. No problem." shrugs

"No problem" Is also his retort to suggestions of a fight against the squat, powerful Samoan. David Tua — 35 wins in 36 fights.

'He comes under the same list as Tyson: a great power puncher. But I'm such a physical specimen compared to him that he would have to race in to get inside me. which he would find very difficult."

He dismisses Henry Akin-wande. disqualified in a Lewis fight two years ago. as "a hugger who needs to prove himself again before getting a second chance."

Lewis' November victory against Evander Holyfield — following an equally nail-biting draw last year — gives him all the heavyweight titles promoted by the four main boxing organisations, and he will find it difficult to fulfil the mandatory requirement of defending each of them once a year. But he exudes confidence about his ability to hold on to. and cash in on. whichever titles he chooses to defend.

The only point on which the Jamaican-Canadian-British Champ is cautious is predicting how many more years are left in the ring.

"1 don't know." he admits. "Something in me might say. "Boy. let me call it a day," but then all of a sudden [cable TV giant) HBO is going to push a whole wad of money my way and say. There you go. it's easy money, all you have to do is beat up this guy."

"When I finally make that decision to retire 1 definitely do not want to come back. I want to be like Marvelous Marvin Hagler. and walk away — but as the reigning heavyweight champion on the world." — Gemini News

About the Author: Gavin Evans is a London based writer and freelance Journalist who contributes to The Guardian and several sports magazines.