Vitali Klitschko a year to heal and possibly prove career ending. To avoid keeping the title out of use he retired. The WBC was grateful for his consideration. On other occasions he cited regrets about his suddenly mounting injuries, a desire to leave the sport while still on top and political aspirations in his home country of Ukraine. Following his retirement, the WBC conferred "champion emeritus" status on Klitschko, and assured him he would become the mandatory challenger if and when he decided to return. On 3 August 2008 the WBC awarded Klitschko a chance to regain his WBC Heavyweight title. After
Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko to capture the crown. The Lineal title would not be contested again for five years until Wladimir Klitschko beat Ruslan Chagaev in June 2009. Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko, billed as "Battle of the Titans", was a professional boxing match contested on June 21, 2003 for the WBC, IBO, "The Ring" and "Lineal" Heavyweight Championships. It was Lewis' last professional boxing match, having decided to retire after eventually rejecting a rematch. A year earlier, Lennox Lewis had finally met Mike Tyson in the ring and achieved a landmark victory by knocking out Mike Tyson in