By G. Leon

In response to worldwide reports that he is coming out of retirement to give Vitali Klitschko a rematch, former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis released the following statement to Boxingtalk through his personal assistant: "I'd like to address the stories that are circulating in the press regarding my return to the ring.  I want to reiterate what I said when I retired in February 2004 that I was fortunate to leave the sport on my own terms and that I will be one of the few heavyweight champions in history to retire on top and stay retired. I boxed professionally for many years and there will always be an attraction to the sport, but I am not returning to the ring. The recent attention given to the possibility of a comeback is flattering and evidences the public's desire for someone to establish a legacy similar to the one I left behind as the true heavyweight champion of the world," said Lewis. The rumor that Lewis was returning to the ring to face Klitschko for as much as $40 million started in the Sunday Mirror.  The Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN and other boxing websites quickly jumped on the bandwagon, parrotting the quotes in the Mirror. Boxingtalk also checked with a source in the Klitschko braintrust and that person also rubbished the claims that Lewis-Klitschko II is in the works. The Klitschko source said that Boxingtalk's top-rated heavyweight is only negotiating for one bout right now... Hasim Rahman, which seems likely to be headed to HBO Championship Boxing in May.  (9:25 PM ET)