Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis, a British-Canadian former professional boxer, was one of the most successful heavyweight boxers of all time. With a professional record of 41 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, and 32 KO wins, he is widely regarded as one of the best boxers in history. Throughout his professional career, he won five world titles and defended them 13 times.

Lennox Lewis made his professional boxing debut on June 27, 1989, at the age of 23. He defeated his opponent, Al Malcolm, via a 2nd round knockout. After his debut, Lewis won 24 more consecutive fights, which included 20 knockout wins.

He became the WBC heavyweight champion in his 22nd professional fight at the age of 27. Lewis had his first world-title defense against Tony Tucker on May 8, 1993, in which he won via a 12 round unanimous decision. This win marked the beginning of his long reign as a heavyweight champion.

He went on to have some of the most memorable fights in boxing history. Some of his notable victories were against Michael Grant, Hasim Rahman, David Tua, Andrew Golota, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Vitali Klitschko.

On November 13, 1999, Lennox Lewis became the undisputed heavyweight world champion by defeating Evander Holyfield via 12 round unanimous decision. At this point, he held the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight world-champion belts.

Throughout his career, Lewis had a total of two losses, both of which were in title fights. He suffered his first loss on September 24, 1994, against Oliver McCall via a 2nd round TKO, which ended his 25-fight win streak. Both of his losses came via stoppage.

His last professional fight was against Ukrainian boxer Vitali Klitschko on June 21, 2003, in which he won via a 6th round TKO and defended his WBC and The Ring titles. After this fight, he retired and ended his professional career with a record of 41 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, and 32 KO wins.

Lennox Lewis was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2009. This was a testament to his contributions to the sport of boxing and his remarkable accomplishments in the ring.

Let's dive deeper into some of Lennox Lewis' most notable fights and achievements.

Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield I (1999)

On March 13, 1999, Lennox Lewis fought against Evander Holyfield for the WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. The fight took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The first fight between the two heavyweight champions was a closely contested battle that ended in a controversial split draw. Most fans and boxing analysts believed that Lewis had done enough to win the fight.

Despite the disappointment, Lewis bounced back in his next fight and defeated the French boxer Francois Botha via a 2nd round TKO.

Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield II (1999)

After the controversial draw against Evander Holyfield in their first fight, a rematch was scheduled for November 13, 1999. The fight took place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lennox Lewis won the fight via a 12 round unanimous decision, becoming the undisputed heavyweight world champion. This was a significant achievement in his career, and he had finally gained the recognition he deserved as a world-class boxer.

Lennox Lewis vs. Michael Grant (2000)

On April 29, 2000, Lennox Lewis fought against Michael Grant for the WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. The fight took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Lennox Lewis won the fight via a 2nd round knockout, which was one of the most devastating knockouts in heavyweight history. This win solidified Lewis' place as one of the most dominant heavyweights of all time.

Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson (2002)

On June 8, 2002, Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson in Memphis, Tennessee. The fight was for the WBC, IBF, and The Ring heavyweight titles, and it was one of the most anticipated fights in boxing history.

The fight started off slow, with both fighters being cautious of each other's power. However, in the 8th round, Lennox Lewis landed a devastating right hand that sent Mike Tyson to the canvas. Tyson was unable to get back up, and the fight was stopped by the referee.

This win was one of the most significant victories in Lennox Lewis' career and solidified his place as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko (2003)

On June 21, 2003, Lennox Lewis fought against Vitali Klitschko for the WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles. The fight took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The fight was highly competitive, and Vitali Klitschko gave Lennox Lewis one of the toughest fights of his career. However, in the 6th round, Vitali suffered a severe cut above his left eye, and the fight was stopped by the doctor. The fight was ruled a technical knockout victory for Lennox Lewis.

This was Lennox Lewis' last professional fight, and he retired soon after. He ended his career as one of the most accomplished heavyweight boxers in history.

Conclusion

Lennox Lewis is undoubtedly one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. With his incredible record of 41 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, and 32 KO wins, he will always be remembered as one of the sport's legends. His achievements, including winning five world titles and defending them 13 times, speak for themselves.

Lennox Lewis' legacy will continue to inspire young boxers for generations to come. His incredible performances in the ring will always be remembered as some of the most memorable moments in boxing history.

Lennox Lewis Fight Record