The ex-champ on being one of Trump's apprentices

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Last week, SI writer Richard Deitsch interviewed Lennox Lewis for the magazine's Q&A. The former heavyweight champ is a contestant on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice. Here are additional excerpts from their conversation:

SI.com: What has been the toughest thing in the transition from professional athlete to civilian?

Lewis: I look at it like this: I was a boxer. Now I am not a boxer. Now I can be anything I want to be. I just have to decide on what I want to be and do it.

SI.com: So what do you want to be?

Lewis: Successful. An icon. Somebody for people to respect.

SI.com: Where do you rank yourself among the heavyweights?

Lewis: Since I have a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali, I'll say I'm the best since Ali.

SI.com: Many people consider you the last legit heavyweight champion. Do you agree?

Lewis: Yes, I do.

SI.com: Why?

Lewis: I look at champions as volcanoes. They erupt every once in a while. So we are just waiting for the next eruption of the next great heavyweight.

SI.com: Why appear on this show?

Lewis: I did it for charity [The Muhammad Ali Center] and I thought it might be fun. It was interesting working with the other celebrities. I can't say who, but I had mad spats with one of them.

SI.com: You can trade places for one day with any athlete. Who are you?

Lewis: LeBron James. He's stepping over people. He is doing serious things, man.

SI.com: Who is the most famous person in your cell phone?

Lewis: Ninjaman. He's a DJ from Jamaica.

SI.com: Had you dealt with Donald Trump before this show?

Lewis: I fought in one of his casinos and I have seen him at some fights. He knows about me from the boxing world. It is not difficult to know about him in the business world because of what he has done. He's a tycoon, man. Really good in business. He had a slip and became even more successful after it.

SI.com: Have you ever fired anyone?

Lewis: Yeah, and it is always difficult. But if it's going to save your business, you have to do it. Nobody wants Trump to utter those words.

SI.com: There's a trend of athletes are appearing on reality television shows and winning? Have you noticed?

Lewis: Yeah, I think it is great. It shows versatility. We're not all just jocks. We have other talents as well. It was an interesting thing to do. I love challenges.

SI.com: The best pound-for-pound fighter today?

Lewis: Floyd Mayweather is very close. He was stupendous against Ricky Hatten, like a martial artist.

SI.com: Are you a soccer fan?

Lewis: I'm for blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air. West Ham, man. Some people are glory supporters. They just go because that team is winning all the time. I'm for West Ham.

SI.com: What kind of tasks did Trump make you do?

Lewis: Some great and interesting tasks. I can't really talk about them but they go along the lines of past shows. We didn't veer to far away from past shows.

SI.com: You are one of the few who said I'm leaving boxing and not come back. Why have you been able to stay retired?

Lewis: Evolution. You have to evolve in life. I accomplished what I needed to accomplish in boxing. Now I have to set new goals and try to be successful in those.