LENNOX LEWIS

updated February 20, 2007

The estimated 6,500 British spectators roared with joy and serenaded their fellow countryman. For the first time in more than a century, a British fighter had won the (undisputed) heavyweight championship of the world.

On November 13, 1999, in Las Vegas, NV, WBC heavyweight champion and Linear Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis tattoed WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield for 12 rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory and capture the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Erasing the bitter memory of their March 13, 1999 bout--a bout in which the three ringside judges' inexplicably scored the bout a draw despite Lewis' dominance--Lewis outpunched the three-time world heavyweight champion to become professional boxing's first undisputed heavyweight champion since Riddick Bowe in 1992.

Lewis bombarded Holyfield throughout the bout with crippling right uppercuts and thunderous overhand rights. Midway through round nine Lewis landed a vicious right uppercut that buckled Holyfield's knees and sent him back to his corner at round's end on unsteady legs. Unable to match Lewis punch-for-punch, Holyfield battled in spurts, flurrying at the end of each round in an attempt to steal the round. However, the tactic failed to sway the judges as Lewis won the bout by the scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. TVKO analyst Larry Merchant summarized the majority opinion of those who watched the bout: "Lennox Lewis proved that he is the heavyweight champion, the best heavyweight on the planet."

The 6 foot 5 inch, 240-pound Lewis moved to Canada at the age of 12, where he compiled a dominating amateur record of 75-7 with 58 KO's. In 1984, Lewis climaxed his impressive amateur career by knocking out future undisputed world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe to capture the gold medal in the super heavyweight division for Team Canada during the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

In his professional debut on June 27, 1989, Lewis drubbed Al Malcolm in two rounds (KO 2). Following his electrifying debut, Lennox seized 20 straight victories--17 by knockout. Incredibly, 10 of his victims could not survive past the third round.

Undefeated at 21-0, Lewis challenged the ferocious Donovan "Razor" Ruddock on Halloween, 1992. The winner of the bout was expected to battle the winner of the Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe bout in a heavyweight elimination tournament that had been agreed upon by all four combatants.

Lewis propelled himself to the top of the heavyweight class by flooring the menacing Ruddock three times to earn a second round stoppage. The victory had seemingly assured Lewis of a shot at the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world (TKO 2).

However, after Riddick Bowe defeated Evander Holyfield on November 13, 1992, to capture the undisputed heavyweight championship, he refused to honor the agreement. Bowe wanted no part of fighting Lewis. Furious, the WBC stripped Bowe of their title, and announced that Lewis would be crowned the WBC heavyweight champion; thus, the dreams of British boxing fans were fulfilled.

Lewis successfully defended the crown three times, defeating Tony Tucker (W 12), Frank Bruno (TKO 7) and Phil Jackson (TKO 8).

On September 24, 1994, Lewis suffered his first, and only, loss as a professional. In the second round a crushing right hand from the WBC 's #1 ranked contender, Oliver McCall, sent Lewis sprawling to the canvas. Lewis rose to his feet, but was not allowed to continue as the referee called a halt to the bout (TKOby 2). Many spectators at ringside argued that the stoppage had been premature and that Lewis should have been allowed to continue. Dejected by the controversial loss, Lewis vowed to regain the title.

Lewis returned to the ring with a fury on May 13, 1995, destroying Lionel Butler in five rounds (TKO 5).

At the post-fight press conference, WBC President Jose Sulaiman assured Lewis that he would face the winner of the Oliver McCall-Frank Bruno bout. However, any celebrations proved premature as Lewis was skipped over for a title shot again, this time in favor of Mike Tyson.

Undaunted, Lewis worked doggedly to secure a championship fight, annihilating Justin Fortune (TKO 4) and Tommy Morrison (TKO 6). After the impressive destruction of Morrison, Lewis battled one of the fiercest warriors in the heavyweight division: Ray Mercer.

On May 10, 1996, Lewis outboxed and outpunched Mercer in front of 16,000 fans at Madison Square Garden to win a unanimous decision (W 10). His punishing left jab and lethal right hand stymied the powerful Mercer, and announced to boxing insiders and fans alike that he was ready to regain his heavyweight belt.

While Lewis was defeating Fortune, Morrison and Mercer, his management team was offering Tyson $45 million to defend the WBC title against Lewis. Tyson refused. In response to a court order demanding that he defend his crown against Lewis, Tyson surrendered the title, providing Lewis with the opportunity to battle his nemesis Oliver McCall for the vacant crown.

On February 7,1997, Lewis challenged Oliver McCall, not only to regain the WBC heavyweight championship, but also to avenge the sole blemish on his record. In a contest in which McCall sobbed profusely and refused to fight, Lewis was awarded a fifth-round technical knockout (TKO 5). "For the winner by unanimous decision and undisputed heavyweight champion of the world . . . Lennox Lewis!"

The estimated 6,500 British spectators roared with joy and serenaded their fellow countryman. For the first time in more than a century, a British fighter had won the (undisputed) heavyweight championship of the world.

On November 13, 1999, in Las Vegas, NV, WBC heavyweight champion and Linear Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis tattoed WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield for 12 rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory and capture the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Erasing the bitter memory of their March 13, 1999 bout--a bout in which the three ringside judges' inexplicably scored the bout a draw despite Lewis' dominance--Lewis outpunched the three-time world heavyweight champion to become professional boxing's first undisputed heavyweight champion since Riddick Bowe in 1992.

Lewis bombarded Holyfield throughout the bout with crippling right uppercuts and thunderous overhand rights. Midway through round nine Lewis landed a vicious right uppercut that buckled Holyfield's knees and sent him back to his corner at round's end on unsteady legs. Unable to match Lewis punch-for-punch, Holyfield battled in spurts, flurrying at the end of each round in an attempt to steal the round. However, the tactic failed to sway the judges as Lewis won the bout by the scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. TVKO analyst Larry Merchant summarized the majority opinion of those who watched the bout: "Lennox Lewis proved that he is the heavyweight champion, the best heavyweight on the planet."

The 6 foot 5 inch, 240-pound Lewis moved to Canada at the age of 12, where he compiled a dominating amateur record of 75-7 with 58 KO's. In 1984, Lewis climaxed his impressive amateur career by knocking out future undisputed world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe to capture the gold medal in the super heavyweight division for Team Canada during the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

In his professional debut on June 27, 1989, Lewis drubbed Al Malcolm in two rounds (KO 2). Following his electrifying debut, Lennox seized 20 straight victories--17 by knockout. Incredibly, 10 of his victims could not survive past the third round.

Undefeated at 21-0, Lewis challenged the ferocious Donovan "Razor" Ruddock on Halloween, 1992. The winner of the bout was expected to battle the winner of the Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe bout in a heavyweight elimination tournament that had been agreed upon by all fourcombatants.

Lewis propelled himself to the top of the heavyweight class by flooring the menacing Ruddock three times to earn a second round stoppage. The victory had seemingly assured Lewis of a shot at the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world (TKO 2).

However, after Riddick Bowe defeated Evander Holyfield on November 13, 1992, to capture the undisputed heavyweight championship, he refused to honor the agreement. Bowe wanted no part of fighting Lewis. Furious, the WBC stripped Bowe of their title, and announced that Lewis would be crowned the WBC heavyweight champion; thus, the dreams of British boxing fans were fulfilled.

Lewis successfully defended the crown three times, defeating Tony Tucker (W 12), Frank Bruno (TKO 7) and Phil Jackson (TKO 8).

On September 24, 1994, Lewis suffered his first, and only, loss as a professional. In the second round a crushing right hand from the WBC 's #1 ranked contender, Oliver McCall, sent Lewis sprawling to the canvas. Lewis rose to his feet, but was not allowed to continue as the referee called a halt to the bout (TKOby 2). Many spectators at ringside argued that the stoppage had been premature and that Lewis should have been allowed to continue. Dejected by the controversial loss, Lewis vowed to regain the title.