Lennox Lewis’ Heavyweight Reckoning: Lion
When Lennox Lewis stopped Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles in June 2003, the ringside doctor’s decision brought Lewis’s career to an abrupt high point. Klitschko had troubled him early, but a severe cut forced the contest to end after six rounds. Lewis left the ring as champion, with a victory over the dangerous challenger and no need to settle the question in a rematch. Eight months later, he retired.
Two Olympic campaigns, one gold
Lewis was born in London in 1965 and moved to Canada as a boy. He represented Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he lost in the quarterfinals to eventual gold medalist Tyrell Biggs. Four years later, he returned to the Games in Seoul and won super-heavyweight gold, stopping American Riddick Bowe in the final. Lewis turned professional in 1989 and quickly became one of the division’s biggest, most technically complete boxers.
A champion tested by defeat
Lewis became WBC heavyweight champion in 1992 after Bowe relinquished the title. His reach and precise jab let him control distance, while his right hand could end a fight when opponents tried to close in. But early fame did not bring an unbroken run. In 1994, Oliver McCall stopped Lewis in a major upset. Lewis rebuilt, changed his training team, and regained the WBC title by stopping McCall in their 1997 rematch.
His two fights with Evander Holyfield became another test. Their first title unification bout, in March 1999, was scored a disputed draw, leaving Lewis without the undisputed championship many observers thought he had earned. In November, he removed the doubt with a unanimous decision over Holyfield, collecting the WBA and IBF belts to join his WBC title.
Settling the record
In 2001, Lewis suffered another surprise, knocked out by Hasim Rahman in South Africa. He returned to the United States for the rematch and knocked Rahman out in the fourth round. Lewis then beat Mike Tyson in 2002, a heavily anticipated championship bout that ended with an eighth-round stoppage.
The Klitschko fight proved to be his last. Lewis announced his retirement in February 2004, still holding the heavyweight championship. His final record was 41 wins, 32 by knockout, two losses and one draw. He had lost twice in the ring and avenged both defeats, becoming the last undisputed heavyweight champion of his era and a 2009 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee.
Sources: Olympedia: Olympic record and career milestones; Team Canada: Lennox Lewis; Lennox Lewis: official fight record.
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Article Tags
Lennox Lewis, Boxing, Heavyweight Boxing, Boxing History, Combat Sports
