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Lewis turned professional in 1989, winning his first 21 fights. In 1992 he knocked out Donovan Ruddock to take over the number one position in the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings and eventually be declared WBC heavyweight champion in 1993. Lewis lost the title to Oliver McCall in 1994 but defeated McCall in a rematch to win the vacant WBC title in 1997. Lewis went on to defend the title four times, becoming the lineal champion after beating Shannon Briggs by KO in 1998. He became undisputed champion after defeating Evander Holyfield in November 1999. After defeating Mike Tyson by KO in 2002 and stopping Vitali Klitschko in 2003, Lennox Lewis retired from boxing in 2004. Throughout his professional career, Lewis suffered two losses, both of which he avenged in rematches, both by knockout. Along with Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield, Lewis is one of only three boxers in history to have won the heavyweight championship three times (Some people might also count Vitali Klitschko and Michael Moorer as 'three time champs', as these two men have twice held recognised major world titles, in addition to a less regarded WBO title, thus technically making them 'three time champions'). Lewis is 6 ft 5 in (2 m) tall and has an 84 in (213.4 cm) reach, much longer than average for his height. During his boxing prime, he weighed about 250 lb (113.4 kg). Lewis often referred to himself as "the pugilist specialist." |
