07.02.04 – By Vincent van der Steen: As most of you have learned by now, the long-reigning Heavyweight Champion of the World, Lennox ‘the Lion’ Lewis, has decided to let the young cubs contest for pride dominance. Like a true lion, Lewis defended his pride with ‘integrity, discipline, and respect’ inside and outside the square ring. As a young cub he showed much promise, taking home both gold at the junior world amateur championship and a gold medal in the super heavyweight division at the Seoul Olympics for Canada.
Lewis rose to contention with a two round demolition derby of Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock, the same man who went twelve with a near-prime Tyson while having a broken jaw. A few weeks later, Riddick ‘Big Daddy’ Bowe took over the heavyweight lineage by defeating the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Evander ‘the Real Deal’ Holyfield in the trenches in their first epic encounter. The stage looked set for what could have been one of boxing ‘s finest rivalries, two undefeated fighters with a common past – Lewis beat Bowe by TKO2 in the Olympic finals four years earlier.
Much to any true fan ‘s regret, it was not meant to be. The ‘Big Daddy’ would relinquish the WBC-version of the heavyweight title by infamously trashing it in the garbage-bin. Thus, Lewis was awarded the first of his three championships. A championship he would lose in only his fourth defence against the ‘crack head journeyman’ Oliver ‘the Atomic Bull’ McCall, when he walked right into a chopping right hand that clipped his chin in the second round: Lewis rose to his feet in vain, the referee had seen enough and – controversially to some – waived off the fight.
This would be the second significant turning-point in Lewis’ career, the legendary Emanuel Steward would step in to mould the former WBC champion into a self-proclaimed ‘pugilist specialist’. A trench-war with ‘Merciless’ Ray Mercer earned Lewis his second shot at the vacant WBC championship and ‘the Atomic Bull’- after ‘Iron’ Mike had cast the WBC aside rather then facing his mandatory challenger in Lennox Lewis. His second chance at fistic glory would once again however digress into absurdity, the Atomic Bull would twist, turn and cry like an Atomic Kitten in their rematch, adding more fuel to an already questionable career – to some. A less then satisfying inception of the second Lewis-era was the result.
Even his second reign would later be marred by bizarre events, blow-outs and lacklustre outings: Akinwande ‘s ‘octopussy-performance’, Golota ‘s ‘no-show performance’ and his lacklustre performances against Mavrovic come to mind. In Lewis defence, it is this author’s opinion that the uncharacteristic showings by some of his victims had a lot had to do with Lewis himself – his power, skill and determination. What should have been the culmination of his career to that point would then turn out to be another anti-climax.
Much to the disgust of Lewis and the boxing public alike, Lewis would win the undisputed heavyweight title against Evander Holyfield, only to be awarded a ridiculous draw. The subsequent rematch would be much closer. To some, Lewis’ victory was controversial but it is in this author’s opinion that Lewis won decisively by eight rounds to four – if Holyfield takes all the close rounds I still have it seven to five for Lewis. Lewis would then opt to fight the – then – consensus number one challenger to his title, Michael ‘the Body Beautiful’ Grant.
Aside from Grant’s decline in anonymity ever since that fight, that fight would mean the inception of the current heavyweight-structure. Ruiz would be rewarded the WBA version of the title, because Lewis’ was not granted an exception to fight Grant by the WBA, and the snore fest era of WBA championship fights would make its entry. After Lewis gave ‘the Terminator’ a big fat ‘hasta la vista’ Lewis would face ‘the Rock’ in Carnaval City South Africa. Respected by now, complacency got his head separated from his cranium in five rounds ‘No Lewis – Tyson, No Lewis – Tyson Rahman shouted’.
Lewis would vow to come back to regain his titles, in his words: ‘Rahman had them on loan’. In one of the finest exhibitions of the art of pugilism in recent years, ‘Hasbeen Rahman’ would find himself between a rock and a hard place: a fourth round KO was the result. 2002, Lewis – Tyson was finally on! Lewis would beat a faded – but still a two round danger – version of Tyson and thought him a lesson over eight comprehensive rounds of one guy pounding the other into submission. To some, and the general public, Lewis’ finest hour.
At the grand old age 37 Lewis would show his desire and determination one final time against the then unheralded Vitaly ‘Dr. Ironfist’ Klitchko. Afterwards dubbed the ‘War at the Staple Centre’, Lewis would controversially beat ‘herr doctor’ Ironfist by a sixth round technical knockout on cuts. The fight was considered controversial because the good doctor was ahead on the cards at the time of the stoppage and had Lewis in trouble in the second round. However, the lacerations to Vitaly Klitchko’s face were of such severity that the stoppage was just in this author’s opinion. A rematch would have been great for boxing and would have added to an already great legacy, a shame, but in no means does Lewis’ decision detract from his accomplishments to date.
Lennox Claudius Lewis won the junior world amateur championship in 1983 and is an Olympic gold medallist at super heavyweight in 1988 while compiling an amateur record of 94 – 11. He has been a top three heavyweight as a professional since 1992 and earned the undisputed world heavyweight championship in 1999 by beating a fellow future hall of famer in Evander Holyfield. He is a former three-time champion, something only Ali and Holyfield can attest to. He has compiled an excellent professional record of 42 – 2 – 1 (32) as a professional and is 15 – 2 – 1 (11) in championship fights.
By my recollection only Ali, Louis and Holmes boast more defences and championship fights. He is also the most dominant champion of the last decade and his list of opponents is a who is who of top fighters in the last decade. He is the third oldest champion to defend his title and is arguably the best big man to ever enter the ring. The fact Lewis came back from two horrendous and humiliating defeats should only add to his legacy and his determination, heart and willingness to fight the very best. Like a lion Lewis has earned infamy and defended his Pride with valour. Time to give in to the lion’s nature and it is time for a challenger to take control of the Lion’s Pride…
In conclusion, the heavyweight division is wide open as of now. The era of Tyson, Lewis and Holyfield looks to have finally come to an end. Old rivalries will make place for new rivalries, something the current division does not lack. We have the Ukrainian doctors, a slick Byrd and a semi-professional golfer that still have some unsettled business. There is of course a southern disaster waiting to happen, a baby taking his first small steps and an aging A-train who look set to add colour to the post-Lewis era. In the fringes we have predators putting on additional meat in an attempt to make it to the big time, I see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Bring out the biscuits! Tea anyone?!