Canada's Lennox Lewis celebrates after winning the gold medal in boxing at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. (CP Photo/ COA/S.Grant)
Lennox Lewis du Canada célèbre sa médaille d'or en boxe aux Jeux olympiques de Séoul de 1988. (PC Photo/AOC)
DOG ASIDE:
Lennox Claudius Lewis (born 2 September 1965) is a retired boxer….and the last undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship….and as an amateur boxer he won a gold medal representing Canada at the 1988 Olympic Games after defeating future heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe in the final. Lewis became undisputed champion by defeating Evander Holyfield, successfully unifiying his WBC title with Holyfield’s WBA and IBF titles….plus with that victory….he was also awarded the vacant IBO title. Lewis is regarded by many as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time….and also as the greatest British fighter of all time.
Lewis turned professional in 1989, winning his first 21 fights before knocking out Donovan Ruddock in 1992 to take over the number one position in the WBC rankings. He was declared WBC heavyweight champion in December 1992 after Riddick Bowe was stripped of the title. Lewis lost the title to Oliver McCall in 1994….but defeated McCall in a rematch to win the vacant WBC title in 1997. He defended the title four times before becoming the lineal champion when he beat Shannon Briggs by knockout in 1998. Lewis became undisputed champion when he defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999. In 2001 Lewis was knocked out by Hasim Rahman….but again avenged the defeat in a rematch later in the year to regain his titles. After defeating Mike Tyson by knockout in 2002 and stopping Vitali Klitschko in 2003….Lewis retired from boxing in 2004….having beaten every opponent he ever faced in professional competition. Lewis is 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall and has an 84-inch (213 cm) reach. During his boxing prime, he weighed about 245 pounds (111 kg)….and was often referred to himself as “the pugilist specialist.”
