Pride is a big deal for world championship boxers – especially those who have been retired for 10 years. Undisputed heavyweight champs need big bucks to mess with their legacy. Check this out..

Check this out from ESPN:

Lennox Lewis is weighing up a comeback fight against one of the Klitschko brothers for a staggering $100m purse.

Russian promoters offered the 48-year-old half that amount (£31.3m) while he was in Moscow at the weekend for Wladimir Klitschko’s successful defence of his world titles against Alexander Povetkin.

But Lewis, the most recent undisputed world heavyweight champion, is only willing to get back in the ring for £62.2m, which would be the biggest purse in boxing history.

The promoters are reportedly considering the offer. Lewis said: “That is my price tag and it is under discussion. I have told them I can be ready in six months and I am in provisional training.”

Lewis is in London launching his new training academy, and reports himself to be “already well under 300lb”. In his prime, he was around 245lb. George Foreman regained the title aged 48 as the oldest world heavyweight champion of all time, but Lewis believes he can surpass him.

Floyd Mayweather currently holds the record for the biggest ever payout, having been guaranteed $41.2 million for last month’s megafight with Canelo Alvarez. His take is also expected to rise to $70 million once pay-per-view revenue has been factored in.

Lewis had previously considered coming out of retirement for $50 million, but is now setting his sights higher. He added: “I said at the time that it will take $50million to get me out of my pyjamas but now I have to consider the value of my legacy of having retired as undisputed champion. That will cost them $100million.”

[more here]

BOOM! Brothers be talking about legacies and shit. I LOVE that stuff!

Can you imagine what ringside seats will be going for? Next to Jack Nicholson and the boys!

Let’s get in the mood with this Lewis vs Tyson highlights reel: