BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.-- Vitali Klitschko had 60 stitches removed Wednesday from the inch-deep cut over his left eye inflicted by Lennox Lewis in their recent heavyweight title bout.

Klitschko was examined by Dr. Pearlman Hicks at his Beverly Hills office and Hicks said the cuts, including one to Klitschko's lip, had healed "extremely fast."

	It hurts when he kisses his wife, Vitali says.

"Vitali should have no contact for 60 days, but would be cleared to fight by three months," Hicks said.

Klitschko was ahead on all three judges' scorecards in the fight last Saturday at Staples Center when it was stopped at the end of the sixth round because of the cuts.

Klitschko is campaigning to get Lewis back in the ring for a rematch both he and a lot of boxing fans believe he deserves.

"`Nobody expects me to fight Lennox Lewis,'' he said. "They expect him to win easy, but I surprised everybody. I could have kept fighting. I know I can beat him. I really hope he gives me a rematch. That is the fight the people want, and that is the fight I want.''