Born on the 2nd September 1965, Lennox Lewis is a retired boxer and a former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion. After winning gold for Canada at the 1988 Olympic Games as an amateur, Lewis embarked on a glittering professional career.
Along with such greats as Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield, Lennox is one of only five boxers in history to have won the heavyweight championship three times. Throughout his professional career, Lewis suffered only two losses, both of which he avenged in rematches. Upon retirement in 2003, he had defeated every opponent he had faced. In 2008 he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and in his first year of eligibility (2009) Lennox was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Working his way up the ranks by defeating his first 14 opponents, Lennox won his first title (from the EBU) in 1990 and became the British Heavyweight champion a year later. In 1992, Riddick Bowe refused to fight Lennox and the WBC title was declared vacant. On the 14th January 1993 the WBC declared Lennox its champion, making him the first world heavyweight titleholder from Britain in the 20th century.
Lennox successfully defended the belt three times including a fight against Frank Bruno. This was the first time that two British born boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title. Despite suffering his first defeat at the hands of Oliver McCall in September 1994, he would go on to win the rematch a few years later in Las Vegas.
On March 13th 1999, Lennox faced WBA and IBF title holder Evander Holyfield in what was supposed to be a heavyweight unification bout. He fought a brilliant tactical fight and although most observers believed Lennox had won the fight, the bout was declared a draw. Eight months later the sanctioning bodies ordered a rematch. The two men fought again and Lennox won by unanimous decision, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the World.
December 1999 saw Lennox voted as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
On June 8th 2002 defended his title against Mike Tyson. A fight many had hoped would be a classic turned out to be one sided as Lennox used his superior strength and skill to secure a knockout victory.
In his final fight, Lennox came up against the Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko. After dominating the opening rounds, Lennox opened a cut above Klitschko’s eye and before the start of round seven the doctor advised that the fight should be stopped, awarding Lewis victory by TKO.
Upon retirement, Lennox and his wife Violet moved to Miami with their children Landon and Ling.
He is now a commentator on American channel HBO and has recently appeared on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice where he finished in 4th place.