The Boxing History Blog

On 13th November 1992, the new WBC mandatory contender was at ringside, working as part of the Home Box Office commentary team, to watch Riddick Bowe outpoint Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship. The hype train started as soon as the new champion left the ring and the two Olympic finalists squared up to each other in a war of words for a mega-fight in 1993. With Bowe signing an agreement with the World Boxing Council prior to his fight with Holyfield to face the winner of Ruddock-Lewis, the WBC gave Bowe until 13th December to reach a deal, or the contest would go to purse bids. Rock Newman, the heavyweight champion's manager, made two offers to Team Lewis. His first offer guaranteed Lewis $3 million, giving Bowe a ninety percent share of the purse and Lewis ten percent. The second offer was for Lewis to not contest Bowe next, but to face an interim opponent in the United States for $2.5 million and then fight Bowe for $9 million or a negotiated percentage

With the European (EBU) heavyweight championship firmly around his waist, it was time to step Lennox Lewis up in class. He faced British champion and world-ranked Gary Mason at London's Wembley Arena on 06th March 1991.  Mason was born in Jamaica on 15th December 1962 and came to Britain as a four-year-old. He started his pro career in October 1984 against Al Malcolm, the same man who faced Lewis on his professional debut. Mason blasted out Malcolm in the first round and his kayo spree lasted until November 1986 when American Oscar Holman took him the full eight-round distance. Mason continued to bomb out his opponents, including former Mike Tyson victims Sammy Scaff (two rounds), Alfonzo Ratcliff (six rounds), David Jaco (four rounds) and James 'Quick' Tillis (fifth round), equalling Frank Bruno and Evander Holyfield.  With a record of 28-0 and twenty-seven stoppages, Mason was nominated to face Hughroy Currie for the British heavyweight title, vacated by the unbeaten Hora

In December 2019 I was on a family vacation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We visited Mystic Mountain, about five minutes from Dunn's River Falls (also highly recommended). On our ascent through the rainforest scenery on the SkyExplorer to take us to the famous Bobsled ride, I wasn't expecting to be greeted by a room full of sports memorabilia.  Obviously, the Jamaican Bobsled team dominated the room, but I was instantly drawn to the massive information board on Lennox Lewis and seeing smaller articles on Mike McCallum, Simon Brown and Glen Johnson, giving me the inspiration for The Pride of Jamaica posts. Lennox Claudius Lewis was born in West Ham, England on 02nd September 1965 to Jamaican parents. His mother agonised over whether to terminate the pregnancy when she found out the man she loved was already married to a woman in Montego Bay. Fortunately for the boxing world, Violet decided against a termination. "I was desperate. But the moment I held baby Lennox in my arms I kne