Boxing: Lewis looks to Steward to resurrect his career

The doyen of boxing trainers, Eddie Futch, once stressed the importance of paying attention. "A lot of great champions listened," he said to a recalcitrant pupil. It has never been entirely clear whether Lennox Lewis failed to keep his ears open or received inadequate information, but the loss of his World Boxing Council heavyweight championship to Oliver McCall last year indicated insufficient progress as a professional.

"Thinking about the immense potential Lennox showed as an Olympic gold medallist, he's a big disappointment," McCall's trainer, Emanuel Steward, said before the contest. "So much more could have been done."

It was announced in London yesterday that Steward - one of four American trainers interviewed - has been hired in an attempt to improve Lewis technically and resurrect his career.

"I believe this is a very good marriage," the former champion's manager, Frank Maloney, said. "We picked Emanuel because of his experience and outstanding track record."

Steward, the founder of the famous Kronk gymnasium in Detroit, has managed and trained numerous world champions, most notably the multiple title-holder, Thomas Hearns.

"Thomas is an outstanding example of what can be achieved with moderate ability if the fighter is prepared to absorb information and work extremely hard," Steward said.

As Lewis has raised doubts about his willingness to be pressured into preparation, the association with Steward could be more than a little interesting.

"I've always felt that Lennox is the most naturally talented heavyweight out there," Steward said, "potentially, the best since Muhammad Ali. He's big, he's a good athlete and he's got power.

"Unfortunately he hasn't been shown how to maximise his assets. In some respects he remains an amateur. But there is still time for him to become the sort of heavyweight champion the sport needs. The fact that I'm leaving a champion [McCall] to work withthe guy he knocked out for the title should tell you how much I believe in Lennox."

This raises a number of points, mostly technical. Better balance is one of them. "We're talking about fundamentals," Steward added.

Basic shortcomings sprang to Steward's mind when Lewis struggled to overcome Frank Bruno in a successful defence of the title. "Bruno shouldn't have been a major problem for Lennox but he had him in serious trouble," Steward recalled.

Thoughts arising from that contest were confirmed when McCall took violent advantage of Lewis's flaws in the second round. Defeat brought about the end of an alliance with the controversial Pepe Correa, who was dismissed a few weeks later.

Lewis has a new trainer and a new hairstyle, but not an opponent. The proposition of a WBC eliminator against Lionel Butler has fallen apart with the news that the American is undergoing treatment for a drug problem. Taking up Lewis's cause, the British Boxing Board of Control is to press for a fight against the next available contender, Joe Hipp.

Another problem for Lewis is loss of status. The American cable television network, Home Box Office, whose funding is critical to heavyweight championship boxing, no longer regard Lewis as a major attraction.

"Lennox made the mistake of being knocked out by McCall," one of its executives said. "We can only put him on as part of a package." Possibly, Steward can improve Lewis, but somebody else will have to provide an oportunity.

n Prince Naseem Hamed, who retained the WBC international super-bantamweight title against Armando Castro on Saturday, wants an early match with one of his biggest rivals at bantamweight. The promoter, Frank Warren, yesterday offered the Irishman, Wayne McCullough, £334,000 to meet Naseem in March or April.