Continuing his heavyweight dominance, Lennox Lewis had one name in mind after shutting down a brash challenger to his divisional throne.
Fresh from his rematch win over the iconic Evander Holyfield to claim the WBA, IBF, and IBO heavyweight crowns, Lennox Lewis enjoyed one of his most active periods as divisional champion.
At the turn of the century, the British megastar would need four rounds combined to take out both Michael Grant and Francois Botha in dominant title defenses, before drawing a notable challenger.
However, amid links to an eventual showdown with Mike Tyson, Lewis was forced the distance for the first time in over a year by an outspoken title chaser.
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Lennox Lewis’ win over David Tua after harsh criticizm
Matching with title challenger David Tua on this day in 2000, Lewis was forced the twelve round distance by the Samoan, who had quite a lot to say pre-fight.
In Tua’s estimations, Lewis was nothing more than a “lazy fighter”, with a very “vulnerable chin”.
However, proving the title challenger wrong, who claimed Lewis could only last for two to three rounds before suffering from his gas tank, the Brit went the distance, riding out a comfortable unanimous decision victory.
Post-fight, Lewis had planted the seeds for a long-anticipated clash with former world champion Tyson, too, claiming he would welcome the Catskills puncher back to the ring.
“If Tyson wants to come to test; I’ll put him to rest; Lennox Lewis is the best,” Lewis said post-fight.
Lennox Lewis’ disastrous return to the ring
Years before ever landing his memorable fight with Tyson, Lewis starred on the big screen ahead of a title defense against Hasim Rahman.
Appearing in Oceans Eleven ahead of the clash with the outsider in South Africa, Lewis stunningly dropped his WBC, IBF, and IBO heavyweight crowns to the Baltimore puncher — who would need just five rounds to knock Lewis out in one of boxing’s biggest upset victories.
Lewis would go on to avenge his loss to Rahman in an immediate rematch in Las Vegas, stopping the newly-minted champion with a fourth-round knockout.