Lennox Lewis Part Six: Legacy
The American boasted an unblemished record of 31-0 (22 KO's), starting his career in July 1994. In June 1997 he stopped the former IBF cruiserweight king Alfred Cole in the tenth round. Five months later Grant stopped the Cuban Jorge Luis Gonzalez in the opening round and to start 1998 stopped David Izon.
In January 1999, Grant faced Ahmed Abdin for the vacant NABF heavyweight title, taking the crown after a tenth round retirement. In June 1999 he won a ten round unanimous decision against Lou Savarese and five months later took on Andrew Golota in the first defence of his title, which also doubled as a WBC eliminator.
Grant started well against his Polish opponent, cutting Golota early in the opening round. Before the three minutes were up, Golota had twice put Grant on the canvas. The American recovered and in round three the Pole had a point deducted for a low blow. Grant returned the favour in the fourth, also getting a point penalised.
Golota was ahead 86-81, 85-83 and 87-80 going into the tenth round and was looking good for a twelve round decision. However, the big American caught up with his opponent, flooring him. On his rise, Golota informed referee Randy Neumann he didn't want to continue, meaning Grant would get his first shot at the new undisputed heavyweight champion.
Lewis-Grant took place at Madison Square Garden on 29th April 2000, thirteen months after the infamous draw with Evander Holyfield. 17,324 fans packed boxing's Mecca to see if Grant could bring back the heavyweight championship to America.
As referee Arthur Mercante Junior finished giving his final instructions, Grant looked at Lewis and said "God bless," a ritual he performed before every fight. At the bell, the challenger came out firing, with Lewis matching his bigger opponent. Grant landed the first big right of the evening and Lewis found himself momentarily on the ropes.
The American was still forcing the action, but Lewis had adapted his style to block the incoming right hand bomb. There was a trickle of blood from the champion's mouth, then Lewis sensationally cancelled out the challenger's early success with a right uppercut and a looping right to the head, putting Grant on his back.
He got up on unsteady legs and Lewis, sensing the end, swarmed in. Grant took some chopping rights to the head and his legs betrayed hm again, falling backwards, with the ropes saving him from touching the canvas, with Mercante Junior administering a standing eight count.
The American looked like a rag doll as Lewis came forward, landing some more bombs on the unsteady challenger. A left hook followed by a straight right had Grant down for a third time. Heroically he managed to scramble to his feet as the bell sounded to end a torrid round for him.
Grant was told to use his legs in the minute's respite as Lewis came out in round two intent to knock the young pretender out. The challenger stood up to some heavy artillery and it looked like he was beginning to get his balance back and survive the round, until he got his head tangled under neath Lewis's jab and the champion fired in a fight ending uppercut, with 7 seconds of the round remaining.
Lewis then returned to Britain for the first time since losing his WBC belt to Oliver McCall in September 1994, when he took on Frans Botha on 15th July 2000. Botha, hailing from South Africa, started his paid career in February 1990.
'The White Buffalo' fought in his home country and the U.S, compiling a record of 35-0 (21 KO's), when he challenged Axel Schulz for the vacant IBF heavyweight title in December 1995. After twelve rounds two of the three judges deemed Botha an unpopular winner. The fight was later declared a No Contest when Botha tested positive for an anabolic steroid.
The IBF fined Botha $50,000 and ordered an immediate rematch for the vacant belt, but Dino Duva, the promoter of the IBF's top contender, Michael Moorer, argued that he organisation had promised the winner of the original Schulz-Botha contest would have to face Moorer. The IBF then sanctioned Moorer and Botha for the vacant belt, with Schulz's team protesting Botha's involvement. A district judge ordered Botha should be disqualified and Moorer versus Schulz took place in June 1996.
Moorer outpointed Schulz and made the first defence against Botha on the undercard to Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield contest on 09th November 1996. The champion had the South African under severe pressure in round three, sustaining a cut in the process. The American had Botha down twice in the eleventh, finally stopping the challenger 18 seconds into the final round.
Botha regrouped, winning four on the bounce, before facing the come-backing Mike Tyson in January 1999, who hadn't fought since his infamous ear biting debacle against Holyfield in June 1997. The South African was winning the contest, before Tyson unleashed a chilling right hand to end matters in the fifth round.
Botha then earned a draw against Shannon Briggs in August 1999 and stopped Steve Pannell in the first round to start the new century, before taking on Lewis. A crowd of 10,000 packed into the London Arena to welcome the champion back home.
Lewis continued his dominance in round two, patiently stalking his prey, waiting to pounce. The champion set Botha up with a jab, right, left hook and another right, putting Botha down, almost through the ropes. The South African groggily got up, but referee Larry O'Connell saved the 'White Buffalo' from his own bravery and waved the fight off at two-minutes and 39 seconds of the round.
A sterner test awaited the champion on 11th November when he stepped into the Mandalay Bay's ring, Las Vegas, against the hard punching David Tua. Born in Faleasiu, Somao, in November 1972, Tua represented New Zealand in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, capturing bronze.
He turned pro in December '92, predominantly fighting in the United States, knocking out most of his opponents, notably a 19 second destruction of WBC International champion, David Ruiz, who later became a two-time WBA heavyweight champion.
Tua continued his stoppage spree, knocking out Darroll Wilson, David Izon and Oleg Maskaev, before losing an all out war against fellow unbeaten heavyweight, Ike Ibeabuchi. Both men landed bombs, but the man from Nigeria took a close unanimous decision, with Tua losing his unbeaten record and the WBC International heavyweight title in his fourth defence.
The Samoan regrouped and boxed his way to the number one spot of the IBF and WBC by stopping eight out of his next nine, including a tenth round TKO over Hasim Rahman in December 1998 and a first round knockout of Obed Sullivan and a third round kayo of ex WBA cruiserweight king, Robert Daniels in June and July 2000, before getting his chance against Lewis.
The 10,809 crowd were treated to a masterclass in boxing, as Lewis kept Tua at bay with his long left lead and right hands. The challenger had his moments and was always dangerous with his power, notably the left hook. When the New Zealander did connect, he was never allowed to follow up.
The frustrated challenger was resigned to throwing single, easily avoided hooks, as Lewis built up a commanding lead. All three judges scored the contest 117-111, 118-110 and 119-110 in favour of Lewis.
Lewis next boxed in South Africa on 22nd April 2001 against Hasim Rahman. Carnival City is 5,200 feet (1584.96 metres) above sea level. The challenger arrived on 27th March, giving his body time to acclimatise to the high altitude. Lewis, who was filming a fight scene with Wladamir Klitschko in Las Vegas for the motion picture Ocean's Eleven, didn't arrive in the country until 10th April.
Lewis also came to the ring weighing 253½ pounds (114.99 KG), his heaviest ever, compared to Rahman's 238 pounds (107.96 KG). Lewis even admitted, had he been facing Tyson and not Rahman that night, he would have come in much lighter.
The challenger started his paid career in December 1994, amassing a 29-0 (24 KO's), which included a ten round decision over Trevor Berbick in October 1996, before facing off against David Tua in an IBF elimination match in December 1998. Rahman was also making the fourth defence of the USBA title he had taken from Jeff Wooden in July 1997.
Rahman was completely dominating the contest, only to get caught by a big left hook towards the end of the ninth. Going into the tenth round, Rahman lead by 89-87 and two scores of 89-82. Unfortunately for him, the 60 seconds respite wasn't enough and Tua proved the judges scores useless, stopping Rahman 35 seconds into round ten.
He responded with two knockouts in 1999, only to lose his final bout of the year to Oleg Maskaev by an eighth round stoppage, another contest he was winning on the judges' scorecards. He stayed unbeaten in 2000, bolstering his record to 34-2 (28 KO's), before his title chance against Lewis.
Both fighters were happy to work behind their jabs in the opening round. Lewis landed a good right hand as Rahman returned the gesture moments later. The champion stepped up his work rate in the second, landing his first power combination. Rahman took it well and continued to work his left lead as Lewis was starting to land his chopping right.
Rahman had his moments in round three, but it was the champion who stamped his authority behind his ramrod jab, causing a swelling to appear under the challenger's left eye. Lewis started the fourth aggressively, which prompted the challenger to respond. As the time ebbed away, Rahman was getting more dangerous with his righthand.
Again, Lewis came out strong to start the fifth and had the challenger on the ropes for the first time. The champion looked set to take out his opponent, who landed a right, forcing a smile from Lewis. The Brit then allowed the American to jab at him and backed away to the ropes. Lewis' hands were low as he smiled at Rahman, just as the challenger detonated a fight ending right to the champion's unprotected jaw.
"No Lewis-Tyson! No Lewis-Tyson!" Rahman yelled after his twenty-to-one opponent failed to beat the count at the two-minutes and 32 second mark.
"I can't believe that, I just can't believe it. I felt fine in there. I was going about my work nice and comfortably and there was no way Hasim Rahman could beat me," said a disbelieving Lewis, who looked to exercise the rematch clause in his contract.
Lewis had to file a lawsuit to get his immediate return, with U.S District Judge, Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum siding with the former champion, saying Rahman had to face Lewis next or not box at all for eighteen months. Lewis-Rahman II took place at the Mandalay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas on 17th November 2001.
This time, Lewis weighed in a trim 246 pounds (111.58 KG) and was intent on gaining revenge on the confident champion, who believed his right hand would be enough to retain the belts. Rahman, scaling in at 236 pounds (107.05 KG), looked to intimidate the challenger, by hammering on the ex-champion's dressing room door. Of course it would take more than banging on a door to unsettle the cool exterior of Lewis.
Though Lewis lost their last fight and recently turned thirty-six, the bookies still had him as a five-to-two favourite to regain his crown. The challenger looked sharp, alert and loose, landing solid jabs and right hands, keeping the champion from landing his dangerous right and cutting his left eye in the process. Rahman managed to land a solid jab towards the end of the opener, but it did little to topple the challenger's dominance.
The end came suddenly in the fourth. A left hook followed by a devastating right to the jaw had Rahman sprawled on the canvas. Blood was dripping down his cheek and his eyes were glazed. Instinct and a champion's heart got Rahman to his feet, but his equilibrium was shot to pieces, as he fell to the canvas again as referee Joe Cortez waved it off after one-minute and 29 seconds.
The victory meant Lewis had emulated his boyhood hero, Muhammad Ali, in winning the heavyweight title three times, and more importantly, it paved the way for a defining encounter with Mike Tyson.
From his debut in March 1985, the eighteen-year-old terrorised the lower echelons of the heavyweight division, cramming in twenty-seven wins, with only James Tillis and Mitch Green hearing the final bell, in an eighteenth month spell, before challenging Trevor Berbick for the WBC title on 22nd November 1986.
The normally durable champion succumbed to the speed and power of the challenger in the second round. The victory meant Tyson, aged twenty, surpassed Floyd Patterson's record of being the youngest heavyweight champion of the world. By August 1987, still only twenty-one, he became the first undisputed champion in nine years.
Tyson took on all comers; he bludgeoned Tyrell Biggs, became the first person to knock out Larry Holmes, stopped Tony Tubbs, annihilated Michael Spinks in 91 seconds, battered Frank Bruno and took 93 seconds to dispose of Carl Williams, before making his tenth defence against forty-to-one outsider, James 'Buster' Douglas, on 11th February 1990.
The contest against Douglas was seen as such a mismatch that promoter Don King had to take the show on the road, as no site in America were interested in holding such a foregone conclusion. King took him back to Tokyo, where even most of the American media refused to travel to see a no hoper get annihilated in double quick time.
The former champion regrouped with four wins and positioned himself to win back his belts with a date against champion Evander Holyfield in November 1991, but a rib injury scuppered any chance of the fight from happening. Tyson's career was also cut short when he was sentenced to six years imprisonment in February 1992 for the alleged rape of beauty pageant, Desiree Washington.
Holyfield, seen as a dead man walking, surprised the boxing world when he stopped Tyson in the eleventh round. With Tyson disgracing himself when he chomped off bits of Holyfield's ears in the rematch, faced a $3 million fine and a twelve month ban.
He didn't return to the ring until January 1999, when he faced the IBF's number two contender, Frans Botha. The South African, taking advantage of a ring rusty Tyson, was boxing well until a right hand relieved him of his senses in the fifth round.
A month after his victory over Botha, Tyson faced jail again for a road rage altercation with two men. He was back in action that October against ex cruiserweight king, Orlin Norris. As the bell chimed to end the first three minutes, Tyson struck Norris, flooring him. In the fall, Norris had damaged his knee and informed the referee he couldn't continue and the result was recorded as a No Contest.
In January 2000, Tyson made his European debut when, stopping Julius Francis in the fourth round in London. Five months later, Scottish fans only got a glimpse of the former two-time heavyweight champion, taking only 38 seconds to dispose of Lou Savarese. He returned to America in the October, stopping Andrew Golota in two rounds.
Not long after, the result was overturned and recorded as a No Contest, as Tyson tested positive for marijuana. Twelve months later, the former champion was in Copenhagen, stopping local hero, Brian Nielsen, in the sixth round, before taking on Lewis, in an attempt to become a three-time champion.
Both Lewis and Tyson were guaranteed $17.5 million each and the bout was officially announced at a New York press conference on 22nd January 2002. The conference was overshadowed by a mass brawl, when Tyson stepped over to the champion's position and threw a punch at one of his body guards. Both fighters ended up on the floor and Tyson bit Lewis's leg.
Tough negotiations and many concessions on both sides allowed the fight to happen and Memphis, Tennessee agreed to stage the contest on 08th June 2002. The contract also stated that if either Lewis or Tyson committed a foul to end the fight, the offender would pay the other party $3 million from their own purse.
Before the gladiators entered the ring, the squared circle was partitioned off by a dozen yellow-shirted security guards separating the two boxers, meaning there would be no stare down as the referee gave his final instructions and no touching of gloves.
The champion, a two-to-one favourite, started the contest tentatively, as both men worked behind their jabs. It was the challenger who landed the first big right of the contest, but Lewis retaliated with his right uppercut. Tyson backed off and tried the uppercut a few more times. The round started to turn untidy with Lewis clinching, though his superior jab helped him clinch the opener.
Tyson came out aggressively in the second and Lewis backed off, landing another big uppercut. Lewis set out his stall early, step back, land the uppercut and hold, using his weight advantage to good effect. Eddie Cotton, the third man in the ring, was quick to warn the champion for any offence committed. The jab was also potent at keeping the shorter challenger away.
Tyson was told to make the fight ugly in the third, but the jab made it a futile exercise and when Tyson did get close to inflict some damage, he failed to pull the trigger. The challenger did land an occasional jab and cut loose with his trademark left hook late in the round, though the champion's ramrod jab caused a cut on the right eye and bloodied Tyson's nose.
Lewis was beginning to dominate the fight now in the fourth, mainly from the jab and right crosses, stopping his shorter opponent from getting close and unleashing his dangerous hooks. As the round was coming to a close, Tyson took a one-two on the chin and Lewis piled all his weight on him. The challenger crumpled to the canvas and Eddie Cotton ruled it not a knockdown, deducting a point from the champion's score.
Tyson ate jabs in the fifth, looking a desperate figure, trying in vain to land a fight finishing punch. The challenger was now bleeding from the left eye and his cut right eye was beginning to swell. Lewis controlled round six but Tyson's power was more than evident when the champion finished the round with a swelling under his left eye.
Round seven was another one dominated by the champion's jabs and right crosses. Though Tyson told his corner he had had enough, he did start round eight aggressively. The champion's jab took the sting out of the challenger's attack. Tyson fired in two hurtful body shots, as Lewis retaliated with a jab, right uppercut, left uppercut and a right cross to buckle the challenger's legs. Though Tyson dipped at the knees, he didn't touch the canvas, bringing an eight count from Cotton.
Lewis had now beaten almost all of the major heavyweight players in his era, apart from Riddick Bowe, and now looked to new challenges ahead, preferably one of the Klitschko brothers. Lewis, with the IBF mandating he should face their top contender Chris Byrd, the champion decided to relinquish the belt, saying: "Prior to today, my team and I had already determined that there was no public interest in a Lennox Lewis-Chris Byrd bout. My decision was also based upon the fact that I believe, as I have said repeatedly, that Chris Byrd offers no competitive challenge to me."
Lewis was scheduled to take on Canadian Kirk Johnson at The Staples Center, Las Vegas on 21st June 2003. Johnson pulled out of the contest on 06th June, suffering a partial tear on his left pectoral muscle. Vitali Klitschko, the WBC's number one contender, who was scheduled to fight Cedric Boswell on the undercard, agreed to face Lewis instead, at twelve-days' notice.
Klitschko proved too big and strong for the smaller champion, blowing Hide away in two rounds. He defended the belt twice before the year was out, losing the championship to Chris Byrd in April 2000. Byrd, behind on all three judges' cards lifted the crown when the champion retired on his stool after the ninth round with a rotator cuff injury.
The Ukrainian regrouped seven months later when he outscored Timo Hoffmann for the vacant EBU heavyweight championship. He then devoured fringe contenders and world title challengers, Ross Puritty, Orlin Norris, Vaughn Bean and Larry Donald before his date with Lewis.
The champion, a four-to-one betting favourite, came to the ring weighing 256½ pounds (116.35 KG), his heaviest ever. The challenger scaled in at 248 pounds (112.49 KG), boasting a 32-1 (31 KO's) record. He was also six years younger than the thirty-seven-year-old and stood at six-foot-seven (201cm), two-inches (5cm) taller.
The opening round was full of mauling, though the challenger was the one who was the aggressor, landing a few good right hands to the champion’s head. Lewis was loading up looking to land one of his fight finishing punches.
Lewis got his jab working in the early stages of round two and Klitschko was still successful with his right. Suddenly the champion was caught flush with a crashing right and his legs momentarily stiffened. The challenger was growing in confidence as the champion looked all at sea as he took big punches from the Ukrainian.
The champion followed the corner’s instructions and took the fight to the challenger. A big right hand opened a nasty cut between Klitschko’s left eyelid and eyebrow, and Lewis was beginning to find his accuracy. Though the challenger was still having his successes, it was the champion who was landing with harder shots.
Lewis jabbed at the lacerated left eye, as both men landed big shots in an untidy round. Though the cut was bad, Klitschko had some hope that the champion appeared tired at the bell.
Klitschko had to take some big uppercuts in the fifth as Lewis shifted through the gears. However, the challenger was also landing punches and at times the champion looked ready to wilt. The power of the Briton was evident, as the Ukrainian was now cut on the left cheek. His corner worked frantically to stem the blood.
Again Klitschko showed his heart and a great chin, taking a massive right uppercut in the sixth. Both fighters landed their fair share of punches, though the challenger appeared the fresher of the two, despite the fact his cuts were getting worse. Lewis finished the round with a cut on his nose.
During the interval, ring physician Dr. Paul Wallace, instructed referee Lou Moret to stop the fight. Klitschko and the fans in attendance were in uproar. All three judges had the fight 58-56 in Klitschko's favour.
"I was getting to him. Look at his face," said Lewis in the ring. "Just look at the state of his face. It was only a matter of time. It was deteriorating. The referee saved his face."
"Right now, I feel like the people's champion," said a distraught Vitali Klitschko. "I did not want them to stop the fight. My strategy was to take it into the seventh and eighth rounds. My strategy was working. I knew his conditioning was not good."
Doctor Wallace explained his decision: "I asked him to look at me and, when he lifted his head, his eyelid covered his field of vision. He had to move his head to see me. If he had to move his head to see me, there was no way he could defend himself. If he got hit with an overhand right, he might not be able to see it. It was a dangerous situation."
Klitschko and the boxing world were hoping for a rematch and Lewis toyed with the idea. He held a press conference on 06th February 2004, announcing his retirement. Lewis left the sport, like Rocky Marciano, as a champion, with a record of 41-2-1 with thirty-two kayos. He had beaten every opponent he faced and is regarded by many historians as one of the greatest heavyweight champions ever.
Boxing Books are available on Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Smash Words, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, and most other digital stores: https://linktr.ee/leroy_fight_writer
Comments
Post a Comment