Continuing his heavyweight dominance, Lennox Lewis had one name in mind after shutting down a brash challenger to his divisional throne.
Fresh from his rematch win over the enduring Evander Holyfield to assert the WBA, IBF, and IBO heavyweight crowns, Lennox Lewis enjoyed certainly one of his most energetic periods as divisional champion.
On the turn of the century, the British megastar would want 4 rounds combined to take out each Michael Grant and Francois Botha in dominant title defenses, before drawing a notable challenger.
Nevertheless, amid links to an eventual showdown with Mike Tyson, Lewis was forced the gap for the primary time in over a 12 months by an outspoken title chaser.
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Lennox Lewis’ win over David Tua after harsh criticizm
Matching with title challenger David Tua on this present day in 2000, Lewis was forced the twelve round distance by the Samoan, who had quite loads to say pre-fight.
In Tua’s estimations, Lewis was nothing greater than a “lazy fighter”, with a really “vulnerable chin”.
Nevertheless, proving the title challenger unsuitable, who claimed Lewis could only last for 2 to 3 rounds before affected by his gas tank, the Brit went the gap, riding out a cushty unanimous decision victory.
Post-fight, Lewis had planted the seeds for a long-anticipated clash with former world champion Tyson, too, claiming he would welcome the Catskills puncher back to the ring.
“If Tyson wants to come back to check; I’ll put him to rest; Lennox Lewis is the perfect,” Lewis said post-fight.
Lennox Lewis’ disastrous return to the ring
Years before ever landing his memorable fight with Tyson, Lewis starred on the large screen ahead of a title defense against Hasim Rahman.
Appearing in Oceans Eleven ahead of the clash with the outsider in South Africa, Lewis stunningly dropped his WBC, IBF, and IBO heavyweight crowns to the Baltimore puncher — who would want just five rounds to knock Lewis out in certainly one of boxing’s biggest upset victories.
Lewis would go on to avenge his loss to Rahman in an instantaneous rematch in Las Vegas, stopping the newly-minted champion with a fourth-round knockout.