09.02.04 – By Keith Terceira: On Friday, Lennox Lewis passed his scepter to the next generation of boxers in a manner that personified the class in which he ruled the heavyweight division for a decade. Had Lennox been American born and bred instead of a proud British subject, no doubt exists in my mind that a day of mourning would have been called in Washington. Old prejudices die hard, but millions of Americans were won over by the skill, tenacity, and power of this great champion. We screamed for him to continue, to defend his titles, many times before the blood had dried from his last defense.
While many will disagree, Lennox Lewis leaves the ring as one of the top three heavyweight champions in my book. Not just for his skills in the squared circle but for his dignity and regal bearing outside of it. He afforded us no embarrassments, no controversies outside the ring, no bad boy image to plague the tabloids. Unfortunately Lewis did not have his Cosell either to inform and increase his popularity in this country. Instead all he did was quietly defeat all challengers to his throne, running into few obstacles.
To hold him responsible for the stupidity of others is unfair. Many “what if’s” have been circulated in the media. What if several of the challengers to his belts had not been incarcerated during his run. I won’t fuel the “what if’s”. I will say that Lewis fought the best that there was when it was most prudent for his financial gain, for his continued reign, and when the odds were in his favor. Had he been my son, father, or brother that is exactly what I would have demanded for him.
All that was missing from the last decade were the challenges that previous champs had. Lennox had no Fraser, no Foreman, to catapult him to legendary status. The skill level was present to face those foes but they never materialized in his generation. Rising to every occasion “The Lion” simply dominated. He avenged the only two losses in his career in royal fashion.
Like all athletes his only conqueror was father time. After a lifetime of grueling training, early mornings, and thousands of miles logged we all knew that the road must end. That it didn’t end in the ring in an embarrassing fashion as other careers have ended, as a fan, I say thank you to Lennox. As usual, you displayed on Friday the class going out as you displayed coming into this sport. I hope you have set the example for others to leave with the same dignity.
Lennox, you may have passed on the scepter, but you have retained the crown by virtue of the manner in which you made the transition. Long Live the Lion!
KeithTerceira@aol.com