CHAMP MUST KNOW WHEN TO STEP AWAY.

Byline: MICHAEL ROSENTHAL Boxing

We might've seen the last of Lennox Lewis.

The heavyweight champion, still the best big man in the world, announced last week that he won't fight Vitali Klitschko again Dec. 6 as expected and has said retirement is a realistic possibility.

No one should be surprised.

Lewis will be 38 in September, has beaten all the best heavyweights of his era (with the exception of Riddick Bowe) and has more money than anyone other than Mike Tyson could spend.

Of course, he would enhance his image at least somewhat by soundly beating Klitschko in a rematch of their closer-than-expected bout at Staples Center in June and then whipping heavyweight newcomer Roy Jones Jr.

And, yes, there are more millions to make. The aforementioned fights would earn him a combined sum that could approach $40 million, which is hard to dismiss.

However, again, what's the point?

There will always be new challengers; a champion must walk away some time. And Lewis wouldn't prove much by beating any of today's heavyweights, anyway, even the plodding Klitschko, even the diminutive Jones. Even now, no one is in his class when he's fit.

And while Lewis loves money as much as the next guy, he doesn't seem to be obsessed by it. He's set for life and not the type to squander a fortune.

Lewis told a group of British reporters last week that Klitschko would be his final opponent before announcing that the fight was off for now. He also seemed to say that this is a good time to move on.

``I'm going to make a wise decision in the near future,'' he told BBC Sport and others, referring to retirement. ``I would have nothing left to prove. Even now I have nothing left to prove. I'm just basically boxing for the fun of it.''

``... I'm not going to be in the sport that long, I'm definitely getting old in terms of this sport.''

And how fun is it at this point?

Lewis' fight with Klitschko didn't seem to be much fun, as he was taken to the limit by a marginal heavyweight and won only because Klitschko was badly cut. It was boxing hell and Lewis doesn't need hell at this point in his career - or life.

Also, while he certainly isn't lazy, he obviously isn't a big fan of training. After a quarter-century in the ring, how many more sparring sessions, how many more 6- to 8-mile runs at 6 a.m. does he want to endure?

No, it's not easy to walk away from the only work he's known, from the unparalleled thrill of stepping into the ring with millions of eyes focused directly on him, from the opportunity to make in one fight what most people don't make in a lifetime.

However, the alternative is worse. And Lewis appears to know it.

``You know, when I was watching Muhammad Ali boxing at the end of his career,'' he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph, ``I wanted him to quit. And Sugar Ray Leonard, too. I loved watching him box, but by the end I was wondering what made these guys go on.

``Now I am here, still trying to find out the answer to the question.''

No one knows what the right answer is. It would be refreshing, though, if one fighter would actually do what so many say they'd like to do: go out on top.

--Little Poison: Jesus ``Little Poison'' Pimentel of North Hills, a native of Mexico, is among the boxing figures who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Golden State Boxer's Association on Aug. 23.

Pimentel (76-7, with 67 knockouts) never won a title but recorded a remarkable 28 consecutive knockouts between 1961 and 1964.

By the time he finally got a title shot, against the great Ruben Olivares in 1971 at the Forum, Pimentel was 31 and past his prime. Olivares won by an 11th-round technical knockout.

``He was a tough, competitive guy, and he might've won a title if Olivares wasn't around,'' said longtime area promoter and publicist Don Fraser.

Pimentel, in the landscape business, is seeking sponsors so he can begin training fighters.

The others being honored at 11:30 a.m. at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Hollywood: Hedgemon Lewis, Dub Harris (past president of the World Boxing Hall of Fame), Oscar Muniz, Eddie Jones, referee James Jen Kin and Macka Foley.

--More knockouts: The record for consecutive knockouts? It's believed to be heavyweight Lamar Clark of Cedar City, Utah, who KO'd 44 in a row (30 in the first round) between 1958 and 1960.

However, his opposition was seriously suspect as he fought two or more opponents at the same time on several occasions - once fighting six. On that night, in Bingham, Utah, in December 1958, only one of his opponents had ever fought professionally.

Once Clark met decent competition, he became familiar with the canvas. He was KO'd in three of his last four fights.

The last came against a young fighter named Muhammad Ali, who was fighting for only the sixth time in his professional career.

ALL-TIME TOP-10 HEAVYWEIGHTS

When Lennox Lewis finally walks away, where will he rank among the greatest heavyweights ever?

On the plus side, he beat all the best heavyweights of his era (except Riddick Bowe) and even knocked out in rematches the only two men to beat him. Big, strong, great right hand and an excellent athlete for a man his size.

On the negative side, he was rarely a warrior as he was reluctant to take chances. He fought in a marginal era for heavyweights. And he beat Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson after their primes.

In the end, he'll be remembered as a very good heavyweight, certainly one of the three best in his era (with Holyfield and Tyson).

Top 10? Maybe. Top 20. No doubt.

Let the arguments begin.

1. Muhammad Ali

In his prime, no one could touch him

2. Joe Louis

25 title defenses are mind-boggling

3. Jack Dempsey

At his best, terrorized division

4. Jack Johnson 

Best defensive heavyweight ever

5. Rocky Marciano

Perfect record hard to ignore

6. Larry Holmes

Held title for seven years

7. Sonny Liston

Had misfortune of running into Ali

8. Joe Frazier

Second to Ali in greatest heavyweight era

9. Evander Holyfield

At or near top of division for 15 years

10. George Foreman

Won title twice, 11 years apart

Next 10: 11. Lennox Lewis; 12. James J. Jefferies; 13. Mike Tyson; 14. Gene Tunney; 15. Ezzard Charles; 16. Jersey Joe Walcott; 17. Riddick Bowe; 18. James J. Corbett; 19. Sam Langford; 20. Ken Norton.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Lennox Lewis, who has hinted at retiring soon, has little left to prove among heavyweights.

Ric Francis/Associated Press

Box:

(1) COMING UP (see text)

- Michael Rosenthal

(2) ALL-TIME TOP-10 HEAVYWEIGHTS (see text)