Lennox Lewis English heavyweight boxer, 1988 Olympic champion, WBC professional world champion Date of Birth: 02.09.1965 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Lennox Lewis
2. Olympic Champion and Professional Success
3. Dispute with the IBF
4. Tactical Game and Controversy

Biography of Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis is an English heavyweight boxer who was born on September 2, 1965. He achieved great success both as an amateur and a professional boxer.

Olympic Champion and Professional Success

In 1988, Lewis won the gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the Olympic Games held in Seoul, South Korea. This victory served as a launching pad for his professional career.

Lewis went on to become the world champion among professionals according to the WBC (World Boxing Council) version. He secured this title by defeating Evander Holyfield, who was once a heavyweight champion himself. Lewis was confident that he had become the champion in all versions of the heavyweight division.

Dispute with the IBF

However, Lewis' title reign was short-lived. It was discovered that he had not paid the International Boxing Federation (IBF) $300,000, and therefore, they refused to recognize him as their champion. The IBF, like any other sports federation, collects fees from all boxers who fight under its auspices, with the highest fees coming from championship fights. Although the disagreements with the IBF seemed to have been resolved before the fight, a representative of the organization whispered to the match organizers just minutes before it started that Lewis would not be recognized as their champion if he won.

It is possible that the IBF simply wanted to support American chauvinists who had denied Lewis the opportunity to fight for the unified title seven years earlier. The IBF's public support is crucial as its leadership, including its president Bob Lee, was recently brought to court for bribery charges. The IBF might be eager to protect such a national treasure of the United States as the heavyweight world championship title and manage to evade the heavy accusations against them. Alternatively, this conflict could be a mere case of extortion. If so, it is likely to be resolved quickly, and Lewis will receive the recognition he rightfully deserves, as he defeated Holyfield on March 13, eight months prior, although the judges ruled it a draw.

Tactical Game and Controversy

The second fight between Lewis and Holyfield revealed a significantly smaller advantage for Lewis compared to their first encounter. Lewis secured a fair victory, but it did not make a strong impression. The fight should raise questions about the competence of the judges, as Holyfield seemed to be the more favored boxer by the public while Lewis emerged as the winner, performing his job properly. Holyfield constantly attacked and relentlessly punched, but he lacked the height and strength to fight against a giant like Lewis. Lewis, without any deception, relied on his physical advantages, attempting to shoot Holyfield from a distance. When that failed, he stopped Holyfield's attacks with powerful right uppercuts to the body or jaw.

Lewis's trainer, Emanuel Steward, proved to be worth the money he received. Lewis's use of the right uppercut surprised Holyfield and possibly played a key role in his defeat. Nonetheless, this alone was not enough to please the audience, which expected a spectacle rather than a tactical game. Additionally, it was insufficient to gain favor among the experts.

At times, it seemed that if the 37-year-old Holyfield had been slightly younger, he could have defeated Lewis at least twice during the fight. In the third and seventh rounds, Lewis found himself in a rather dangerous position. Holyfield gave his all in this match, which cannot be said about his opponent. Nevertheless, Holyfield was not flawless either, occasionally fighting very dirty, deliberately trying to hit Lewis with his head.

The match left a strong feeling of disappointment, further intensified by the IBF's "special position." However, Americans are dissatisfied not because Lewis was denied the IBF title but because he received two other titles. Although most leading specialists reluctantly acknowledged Lewis's victory, the audience remained naturally dissatisfied. As a result, a new wave of hysteria is swirling around the match and its outcome. It seems that Holyfield will not be allowed to reign as the winner for long.

Nonetheless, Lewis, a 34-year-old Englishman, accomplished his mission. He won America's seven-year war against a single boxer, albeit not in a particularly beautiful or convincing manner.