Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis MBE, OBE, CM
Lennox Lewis has accomplished more in one boxing career than most people can imagine. He is known for his calculated fighting style and grace in the ring. He turned professional in 1989 and went on to gain the European title in 1990 and the British Commonwealth Heavyweight title in 1992. He was officially crowned the WBC Heavyweight Champion in January of 1993.
In November 1999 Lewis and Evander Holyfield met once again in the ring after their earlier fight ended in a controversial draw. This time Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, unifying the WBC, WBA, IBO and IBF titles.
The crowning moment in his career came in June 2002 when Lewis ceremoniously defeated Mike Tyson. The stage was set for the Lewis/Tyson fight 18 years earlier when they sparred together and it was predicted by Tyson’s coach Cus D’Amato that they would meet for the heavyweight championship title. The Lewis/Tyson 2002 fight was the highest grossing pay-per-view professional boxing fight for five years.
Along with Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield before him, Lewis is one of three boxers in history to have won the heavyweight championship three times. Muhammad Ali famously said to Lewis, “You’re the greatest one there is, like me.” George Foreman has described Lewis as “beyond doubt, the greatest heavyweight of all time.” Lewis’ decision to retire as the reigning heavyweight champion of the world in 2004 reaffirmed his reputation as a man who makes decisions for himself and sticks to his principles.
He continues to be the last Undisputed Heavyweight Champion.