Lewis sets his sights on Roy Jones Jnr

LENNOX LEWIS would have to take the threat of Roy Jones Jnr very seriously if he wanted to end his career on a high against the most highly-rated fighter in the world.

The idea of Lewis fighting a man several stone lighter and inches shorter was ridiculed when first suggested despite former middle- weight Jones winning the World Boxing Association's heavyweight belt to confirm his ranking as the best pound-for-pound boxer around.

Lewis wants a showdown with the American if he successfully retains his World Boxing Council title against Vitali Klitschko at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles tomorrow night.

And the 37-year-old's trainer Emanuel Steward reckons Jones, who would want around £20m to step into the ring with Lewis, would be a threat even given the vast physical difference.

"When I saw Jones win the world championship I knew he was going to want to fight Lennox because I know Jones' ego," said Steward.

"Once he gets a taste of that money, it's intoxicating. But Jones is a serious fighter and I would not take him lightly."

If the fight does go ahead it is sure to generate more interest than Lewis' defence against Klitschko, the first heavyweight title fight in Los Angeles for 45 years.

Lewis was forced to change to a tougher opponent at just 12 days notice after Canada's Kirk Johnson pulled out injured but it was too late for the fight to be marketed as a pay-per-view event.

Instead it will go out live and free on HBO meaning that the Staples Centre, home of basketball's LA Lakers, is expected to be filled to only around half of its 16,000 capacity for boxing.

Muhammad Ali's daughter, Laila Ali, who will be fighting on the undercard, has done her best to attract a late rush of fans by questioning Lewis' talent in the publicity stakes.

"I don't want to say that Lennox is not doing something," she said.

"All I can say is, if I was the main event I would make it as exciting as possible. People like drama and sometimes you have to create some."

But Steward, dismissed any thoughts Lewis is not ready and that there was complacency in the camp.

"Lennox is very much aware of that his two losses came against fighters not as talented but he just relaxed," said Steward, who wants Lewis to quit after a couple more fights to protect his status as one of the greatest fighters in history.

"Lennox is in unbelievable condition for a man of his size and I have no problems with his weight."

Steward insisted that Lewis is not showing any signs of his age in the ring which Klitschko, six years his junior, would be hoping to exploit.

"I am looking for the signs every day but he is fighting better than ever," added Steward, who believes Lewis will win inside five rounds.

"He has become a real great ring technician and controls the ring better than any fighter I have seen for many years," he said.

Klitschko is confident that he can take his chance having been due to fight on the undercard with a meeting with Lewis originally planned for later in the year.

"Lewis has only had two weeks of preparation which is not enough," said the 31-year-old 6ft 7in colossus who would become the tallest heavyweight champion in history if he pulls off a shock win.

"But I have been waiting for this fight for almost three years and I really am prepared. I will be a champion when I step out of that ring," he said.

Klitschko, with 31 knockouts in a 32-win career, has only suffered one defeat when he was forced to quit after nine rounds of a World Boxing Organisation title defence against Chris Byrd in 2000 with a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder.

The doctor of sports science and philosophy has since had to contend with intense questioning whether he has the heart to be a champion.

Lewis said: "I thought, this guy has no heart, he's no champion. If that was me they'd have to carry me out on a stretcher.

"If I had only one hand I would use that ."

But Klitschko, who will have his younger brother and fellow boxer, Wladimir, in his corner, insisted:

"If I had continued, my shoulder could have been irreparably damaged "Because we are boxers does not make us superhuman. When I'm healthy I can fight anyone. When my body can't, it can't."