Not particularly in any order, below is what World Boxing News consider the ten best wins of Lewis’ career.
1. Mike Tyson (June 8, 2002) KO8
Lewis stopped Tyson in eight rounds at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee to retain his WBC, IBF and IBO heavyweight belts.
The fight followed a famous rant by Tyson were he said, ‘he wanted to eat his children’ and there was also an infamous ‘leg bite’ as the two squared up for the press conference. At the same event, Tyson would address the media in one of the most bizarre presser rants of all time.
2. Evander Holyfield (November 13, 1999) UD
After being robbed of victory in their previous meeting exactly eight months prior, Lewis made sure of a points triumph in their second bout at the Thomas and Mack Center. Lewis unified the WBC, IBF, WBA and IBO belts in the process.
3. Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock (October 31, 1992) KO2
Lewis defended his Commonwealth title with a breakthrough win that would eventually see the Briton claim the WBC title when Riddick Bowe famously put the strap in the trash.
4. Frank Bruno (October 1, 1993) TKO7
A second successful World Boxing Council defence was sealed for Lewis when Bruno succumbed to a seventh round onslaught to end what was a closely fought contest.
5. Oliver McCall (February 7, 1997) TKO5
A bizarre fight ended in the fifth round as McCall began to cry in the ring in what was an apparent breakdown at the time. Concerns for McCall’s mental state saw Lewis regain the WBC title he lost to the American in a shock knockout back in September 1994.
6. Hasim Rahman (November 17, 2001) KO4
A clause in their original contract put Lewis in with an immediate revenge chance following Rahman’s fifth round knockout win in South Africa seven months previously.
This time, Lewis would once again put right a bad result with a crushing right hand heard around the world.
7. Michael Grant (April 29, 2000) KO2
At the time, Grant was pitched as the future of the US heavyweights after compiling an impressive 31-0 record. Lewis wasted no time placing Grant back into obscurity though with yet another crushing knockout.
8. Gary Mason (March 6, 1991) TKO7
A big breakthrough in the career of Lewis who defeated a then 35-0 Mason to win over the UK fans who had been sceptical of the contender due to his Olympic ties to Canada.
9. Tommy Morrison (October 7, 1995)
Lewis systematically broke Morrison down with his superb jab before eventually taking ‘The Duke’ out in the sixth round.
10. Vitali Klitschko (June 21, 2003) TKO6
A fight many think Lewis got away with after Klitschko was stopped on a cut when in front on the scorecards. Lewis was able to work on Klitschko’s eye though to force the end of the fight and rightly got out at the top, never to return.
