LOS ANGELES -- Vitali Klitschko, severely cut around and under his left eye during his heavyweight title fight against Lennox Lewis last month, has been cleared to return to the ring.

Klitschko, who turned 32 Saturday, was examined by Dr. Volker Steinkraus in Hamburg, Germany.

Steinkraus said Klitschko's cuts "have healed very well and quickly.''

"There is no scarring in the left per orbital region and in the left cheekbone area,'' Steinkraus said Monday. "He can begin training now and can fight again as soon as he wants.''

Klitschko said he looks forward to fighting Lewis again.

"I am ready for the rematch that boxing fans all over the world want to see, and I hope Lennox is, too,'' Klitschko said.

Lewis retained his WBC/IBO heavyweight titles June 21 at Staples Center with a controversial sixth-round technical knockout. When the 12-round bout was stopped, Klitschko was leading 58-56 on each of the three judges' scorecards.