Talk of Lennox Lewis Return Illustrates Lack of Interest in Dying Heavyweight Division

"[$100m] 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. I said at the time that it will take $50m 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 $100m." Lennox Lewis

This throwaway comment from Lennox Lewis was never meant to be taken seriously. The former undisputed heavyweight champion was talking to a small group of boxing writers about how he planned to unearth the next great heavyweight sensation when he joked about a return to the ring.

He probably didn't give it a second thought. Why on earth would a 48 year old with an estimated net worth of £94m consider making a comeback. He certainly would never have believed that it would have caused such a furore among boxing fans and writers.

But that one comment caused sensation with publications around the world printing stories about his spectacular return. Immediately the debate was open for discussion - could Lewis really dethrone either of the Klitschkos despite having retired almost ten years ago?

It is clear that Lewis is not really considering dusting off the gloves one more time, even if he did stand to make an unprecedented sum. But what did become obvious is that everyone is desperate for some excitement in an increasingly boring heavyweight division.

The Klitschkos have ruled with an iron fist and neither fighter gets the credit he deserves. Wladimir was once again criticised for his last performance despite knocking down Alexander Povertkin five times en-route to a one-sided victory. Yet the Russian was a worthy adversary. He had a stellar amateur career that saw him land Olympic gold in 2004 before crushing ever opponent put in front of him in the pro game.

He was the one fighter that seemed deserving of a shot; with some pundits suggesting he was the only man that could possibly inflict a first defeat on Wladimir since Lamon Brewster all the way back in October 2004.

So where do we go from here, who is that next heavyweight who can light up such a dark division? Most will agree that it certainly isn't Tyson Fury or David Haye. America's great hope is Deontay Wilder but he is decidedly raw and nowhere near ready to share a ring with either of the Ukrainian giants.

In England we have a new hope in Anthony Joshua. Here is a man with pedigree, who won an Olympic gold at super heavyweight with only four years of experience behind him. A natural athlete who appears chiselled out of granite, with a ramrod jab and explosive power in both hands.

But he is just one fight into his professional career. It is likely that by the time he is ready for a world class opponent the Klitschkos will have sailed off into the sunset - and in all probability a successful career in politics.

For now the division remains predictable and unappealing. We long for the halcyon days of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston. While it's clear Lennox Lewis isn't the man to salvage the division, we just hope he can uncover the man that can.