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Haye missed chance to be next Ali - Lewis

Lennox Lewis has followed David Haye's career © Getty Images

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Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis believes David Haye could have proven himself as the heir to Muhammad Ali's throne, had he fought more in the United States during his career.

Haye, the WBA strap-holder, has fought just twice on the other side of the Atlantic during the course of his professional career, a statistic that looks unlikely to change with his fight against Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg set to be the final bout of his career.

Lewis believes the Brit's lack of exposure in the United States has scuppered a very real opportunity to make himself as big a name in the history of the sport as Ali is.

"I'd have loved to see David box in America a lot more," Lewis said. "It would have made his popularity bigger and Americans would have been screaming about him.

"When he boxed Monte Barrett in 2008 it was shown [on TV] in America and people were asking me about him, saying he was quick like Muhammad Ali.

"People miss having a great heavyweight. The spotlight is on the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr but, when it comes to boxing, people want to see a heavyweight."

Haye, however, is pragmatic about his inability to break America - blaming it on a lack of worthwhile opponents for him to face.

"I wish there was a current-day Mike Tyson, an American who can generate some hype," Haye said.

"There's no one to fight in America. I'd have loved to have a fight in Vegas, but it wasn't meant to be.

"I'll survive without it."

The 30-year-old hopes defeating Kiltschko on July 2 will nevertheless enable him to secure a formidable legacy within the sport.

"In years to come, maybe people will see these 50 fights that Wladimir had and say he's an all-time great," he said. "And they will say I beat him."

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