Lennox Lewis - New Millennium Champion

By Ben Yap

09.06 - Although this fight did not turn into the classic that I had hoped it would, it was an important fight in the history of boxing and it accomplished two things. One, it allowed Lewis to complete his legacy and to prove that he is the best heavyweight of the 90's and the True Heavyweight Champion of the New Millennium, and Two it allowed Tyson to show that he was a former great, with a champion's heart who refused to quit, and when he finally did, he accepted the defeat graciously.

Lewis finally put it all together. He showed why in his entire career spanning over a decade, every fighter he has faced he has beaten. And the fighters he didn't beat the first time, he made sure he beat them the second time. As Emmanuel Steward said, Lennox Lewis can really do it all. He showed in this fight that he was physically stronger than Tyson, pushing him back on many occasions. He showed that he could keep Tyson at bay with his jab and his footwork. Finally, he showed that he could also do what Tyson does, and punch with knockout power. I don't think there's been a heavyweight champion in history who could do it all. Power, Defence and Ring Generalship, Lewis was able to display his full arsenal tonight.

The Fight

In the beginning, the fight started quite slowly, however Lewis did assert himself in the first round, when the referee called a break, Lewis upon being separated pounced on Tyson with some punches which surprised him. Other than that the first few rounds consisted of Lewis leaning on Tyson. Tyson went down in round one due to a punch and Lewis leaning on him.

Lewis was warned alot by the ref for this as well as an elbow. But Lewis was starting to win the war, by getting Tyson's respect.

From the fourth or fifth round, Lewis began using his jab and boxing. This was when it started to really become Lewis's fight.

Tyson's early window of opportunity had suddenly shut, and Lewis was gaining in confidence. He would box and move. On a break Tyson tried a hard body shot but it missed the mark. I think Tyson only landed one hard left hook in the whole fight and Lewis was able to take it without flinching.

A big turning point in the fight was when Lewis landed a combo which including a big uppercut. Tyson bent down to his needs and then got back up and cowered trying not to get hit again but Lewis got in another uppercut. This reminded me very much of the Tommy Morrison fight where Lewis used a similar combination. Lennox was able to knock down Tyson with a straight right.

Through rounds five to eight, Tyson offered very little offense.

Meanwhile Emmanuel Steward was pleading to Lewis to knockout Tyson as they realised that whilst Tyson was around he would always be dangerous.

Before the final round, both of Tyson's eyes were cut and he was bleeding badly. He sat back on his stool and his corner told him that he musn't quit. They told him that this was for the championship of the world, and he had taken Lewis's best shots. But the problem was that Tyson now cut on both eyes, simply couldn't see the attacks, and Lewis was now pretty much treating him like a punching bag. Nevertheless Tyson came out anyway.

Tyson tried one more rush at Lewis, but Lewis used his footwork and Tyson simply couldn't reach him.

Lewis ended matters with a straight right and Tyson went down, he didn't beat the count and Lennox Lewis completed his legacy showing that he deserves respect.

The Future

So overall Lennox Lewis has nothing left to prove. The missed fights against Riddick Bowe seem like nothing now. He faced and beat all the fighters the good and the great over the past 10 years and now with Mike Tyson his legacy is complete. This fight proved that the losses to Rahman and Mccall were due to his lack of focus as these fights meant nothing to him. This means that he should really go out on a high note now. If he stayed around and the opponents did not really challenge him then he would simply fight below his ability, basically achieving very little.

As for Mike Tyson, he did himself proud. He fought like the true champion he is, he didn't give up though he wanted to, cut on both eyes, and being out manouvered and out punched by the bigger guy he didn't want to quit. He was also graceful in defeat. But it seemed like his reflexes were
gone, and he just didn't have it.

There's nothing left for Lennox Lewis to prove. He's beaten everyone there is to beat, and he's even avenged his two defeats. He's carried himself as a champion both in and out of the ring, and he took on all the fighters of his era who would face him and he beat them. He can leave on a high note as the Millennium Champ