Lennox Lewis announces retirement

<br>LONDON (AP) _ Lennox Lewis announced his retirement Friday, becoming the first active world heavyweight champion to quit in nearly 50 years. <br><br>The 38-year-old Lewis confirmed at a packed London

Friday, February 6th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ Lennox Lewis announced his retirement Friday, becoming the first active world heavyweight champion to quit in nearly 50 years.

The 38-year-old Lewis confirmed at a packed London news conference that he was leaving the sport after a 14-year career.

After months of deliberation, Lewis decided to retire rather than defend his World Boxing Council title in a rematch against Vitali Klitschko.

Lewis leaves with a 41-1-2 record, and is the first reigning world heavyweight champion to quit since Rocky Marciano in 1956. Muhammad Ali retired with the WBA title in 1978, but came back to lose fights to Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick.