Five classic heavyweight moments from birthday boy Lennox Lewis
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Widely regarded as one of the greatest ever heavyweight boxers, Lennox Lewis reaches yet another milestone today, as the former world champion turns 50!
To celebrate The Lion’s birthday, here are five of the last undisputed world champion’s best ever moments during an illustrious career.
Olympic Gold
Kicking off his boxing career in style, before turning professional, Lewis rampantly rallied to a gold medal triumph at the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea.
Having held both British and Canadian citizenship, watch here as Lewis dispatches Riddick Bowe in the final of the super heavyweight boxing final in Seoul while representing Canada.
Professional debut
A year after that incredible Olympic victory, Lewis went on to make his professional debut, the beginning of a sensational heavyweight career.
See The Lion completely demolish Al Malcolm in his first ever professional bout, brutally stopping his opponent just 19 seconds into the second round of their encounter.
World champion
Following Lewis’ sublime debut as a pro, he sensationally won his first 25 fights, but capped off his rise to prominence with his 22nd triumph over Donovon ‘Razor’ Ruddock in 1992 to take over the number one position in the WBC rankings.
The unstoppable heavyweight was declared the WBC heavyweight world champion after his win over Ruddock, as then-title holder Bowe, who Lewis toppled at the Olympics, refused to defend against him. Watch as he topples Ruddock in 1992 to become the number one contender.
Stopping Tyson
Lewis went on to become Great Britain’s first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Bob Fitzsimmons held the crown in 1899, and is still the last man to have done so.
Though in 2002, one of his most memorable victories came over the one and only Mike Tyson, stopping the legendary American fighter in the eighth round of their globally anticipated match-up. Watch that stunning win here as Lewis cemented his legacy as one of the best ever heavyweights in the sport.
Finishing in style
After stopping Tyson in his penultimate career bout, Lewis then ended his time in the ring on a high, thwarting Ukrainian bruiser Vitali Klitschko with a stunning performance in 2003 before retiring the following year.
Watch that vicious encounter with Klitschko right here, as Lewis ended his supreme career on a high note by handing the Ukrainian only his second ever defeat to date, with his opposition unable to continue after the sixth round due to serious cutting.
Much has been made of current uprising heavyweight star Anthony Joshua, with some comparisons being drawn between him and Lewis, and Britain’s potential world champion is 9/4 with Coral to stop Scot Gary Cornish in the first round of his next fight on September 12.
