5. Lennox Lewis KO 1 Andrew Golota (1997)
https://youtu.be/mGXffv4eXy8?t=2m48s
Andrew Golota was fearsome, at 240 lbs and 6’4 he boasted quite a presence. Furthermore, Golota had garnered a dangerous reputation after numerous incidents involving illegal actions such as headbutting and biting.
Golota had famously shared the ring with the great Riddick Bowe twice and had been beating him handily on both occasions, before he lost his temper and end up being disqualified for persistent and unnecessary low blows.
Those were the only two losses on Golota’s resume, so Lewis was stepping into uncharted territory when he agreed to face Golota in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
But as was the case many times with Lewis, the right hand seemed to have a little too much mustard on it for his opponent to be able to absorb. The image of a shell-shocked Golota, following the first knockdown is one that will stick in the memory for a long time.
4. Lennox Lewis TKO 7 Frank Bruno – 1993
https://youtu.be/baKsx5WrYh4?t=27m38s
This was a pivotal fight in the career of Lennox Lewis; Bruno had never achieved on the world stage despite multiple attempts at the world title. But Bruno boasted a remarkable following in Great Britain and he almost picked up where Sir Henry Cooper left off by becoming the nation’s sporting sweetheart.
It was a fight of major repercussions for Lewis, he boasted better credentials than his counterpart but did not have no way near the level of popularity Frank Bruno had. He needed Bruno as a stepping stone to reveal to the British public that there was a new heavyweight sheriff in town.
This fight allowed Lewis to build his brand and profile in his homeland, following a sketchy start to that relationship after Lewis had represented Canada at the Olympics.
3. Lennox Lewis TKO 2 Razor Ruddock – 1992
https://youtu.be/07MqYTFlFvM?t=5m44s
This fight will be looked back on as Lennox Lewis’ coming out party. Ruddock represented Lewis’ first real step up in class and quality since joining the professional rankings.
Lewis was facing tried and tested world championship level opposition, Ruddock had even gone the full distance against ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson just one year prior to these two facing off.
This was the night when we would finally see what Lewis is all about and the stakes were big, with this meeting being an eliminator for a shot at the prestigious WBC world heavyweight championship.
Lewis bulldozed through Ruddock in scintillating fashion, attacking with a fusillade of blows from all angles which left Ruddock on the canvas and unable to continue.
2. Lennox Lewis KO 8 Mike Tyson – 2002
https://youtu.be/iQeZzlV8X2A?t=35m7s
Both combatants were sadly long past their best when collided in Memphis, Tennessee on June 8 2002. But that didn’t change the fans perception of just how pivotal this match-up was in terms of boxing history.
This match-up has been etched in history, currently it factually ranks as the fifth highest grossing boxing event in history after grossing a mammoth $112m. Furthermore it is the highest grossing heavyweight title fight of all time and the highest grossing boxing event of all time that doesn’t feature Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Lewis was just too sharp and masterful for Tyson at this stage of their careers, Lewis effectively took Tyson apart from a distance working behind his ever-present jab.
Lewis put Tyson out of his misery in the 8th round and cemented his place as the standout heavyweight champion of the remarkable era of the heavyweight division in the 1990’s.
1. Lennox Lewis KO 4 Hasim Rahman (II) – 2001
https://youtu.be/sDAeXv6UyTM?t=16m14s
This knockout is undoubtedly one of the greatest of the modern era; a spine chilling right hand masterfully set up by the left, echoed throughout the Mandalay Bay arena in Las Vegas on the night of November 17 2001.
Lennox Lewis joined Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as the only 3-time heavyweight champions in history with this spectacular knockout.
Bad blood had developed between the pair ahead of the rematch, with derogatory insults being traded backwards and forwards and the pair even had a live on-air studio brawl on ESPN.
With this knockout, Lewis put the most heated rivalry of his professional career to bed and dismissed Rahman as “Has-been Rahman,” and added: βHe is the Buster Douglas of the 21st century.β
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