Lennox Lewis has said he is prepared to fight one of the Klitschko brothers if they offer him $US100 million ($A106.16 million) -- the biggest purse in boxing history.
It is nearly a decade since British boxer Lewis retired as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
But such is the poor state of the heavyweight division, the now 48-year-old Lewis said he was offered $US50 million ($A53.08 million) in Moscow at the weekend while attending Wladimir Klitschko's successful defence of his world titles against Alexander Povetkin.
Lewis responded by promising to return to the ring for $100m.
The promoters are considering doubling their offer and Lewis told Thursday's Daily Mail: "That is my price tag and it is under discussion. I have told them I can be ready in six months and I am in provisional training."
Were Lewis to beat one of the Klitschkos, who between them hold all major versions of the world heavyweight title and have vowed never to box one another, he would surpass US boxing great George Foreman, who was 48 when he regained the world heavyweight title.
Foreman beat Michael Moorer in 1994, having first been crowned champion in 1973.
Lewis had previously talked of $50 million being the required amount to make him contemplate a return to boxing.
"I said at the time that it will take $50 million to get me out of my pyjamas but now I have to consider the value of my legacy of having retired as undisputed champion. That will cost them $100 million," Lewis also told the Mail.
Lewis beat Vital Klitschko in Los Angeles in 2003 and a year later retired without having boxed again.
The older of the Ukrainian brothers, the 42-year-old Vitali, who holds the WBC world title and harbours hopes of becoming president of Ukraine, has long wanted a return bout.
Lewis, however, wants to fight Wladimir, 37.
"I beat Vitali so I would like to fight the other brother but we'll see how it works out. I want to bring back the Sweet Science to heavyweight boxing," Lewis said.
Wladimir Klitschko retained his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles with a unanimous points win over Russia's Povetkin in Moscow on Saturday.
He enjoyed an emphatic victory, putting Povetkin on the canvas five times, three times in the seventh round alone.
Lewis, however, was unimpressed.
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