Editing Lennox Lewis (section)

==Professional career==
{{BLP sources section|date=July 2022}}

===Early career===
Having achieved his goal, Lewis declared himself a professional and moved back to his native England. He claimed he had always considered himself British,<ref name="The Times 2008-04-02">{{cite news | first=Ron | last=Lewis | title=Lennox Lewis still fighting his corner as he lays into heavyweight issues | date=2 April 2008 | work=The Times| url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article3300963.ece | access-date = 21 December 2023 | location=London | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902205607/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article3300963.ece | archivedate=2 September 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/forum/566535.stm "Lennox Lewis answers your questions"] BBC, 21 December 2009, retrieved 25 December 2010</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/10/sports/boxing-bruno-vs-lewis-a-personal-battle-of-britain.html "BOXING; Bruno vs. Lewis: A Personal Battle of Britain"] New York Times, 10 August 1993, retrieved 25 December 2010</ref> but one article reported that many British fans regarded him as "a [[Canadians|Canadian]] at heart and a Briton for convenience."<ref name="Sports Illustrated 1993-10-11">{{cite magazine | first=Pat | last=Putnam | title=Bloody Poor Show| date=11 October 1993| publisher=Time Warner | url =https://www.si.com/vault/1993/10/11/129536/bloody-poor-show-lennox-lewis-kod-countryman-frank-bruno-in-an-uninspired-outing | magazine =Sports Illustrated | access-date = 9 April 2019}}</ref> In 2015 Lewis explained "When I turned pro, I had to go to the United Kingdom in order to pursue my career. The infrastructure to develop boxers wasn't in Canada then."<ref>{{cite news | first=Bill | last=Lankhof | title=Lennox Lewis wants to make Toronto 'Boxing City' | date=14 July 2015 | publisher=Sun Media | url =http://www.torontosun.com/2015/07/14/lennox-lewis-wants-to-make-toronto-boxing-city | access-date = 18 July 2015 | location=Toronto}}</ref>

Lewis signed with boxing promoter [[Frank Maloney]] and his early professional career was filled with knockouts of [[Journeyman (boxing)|journeymen]], as well as fighters such as [[Osvaldo Ocasio]].

===British, Commonwealth and European champion===
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Tyrell Biggs|Lennox Lewis vs. Donovan Ruddock}}
After he signed with American promoter Main Events,{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} he won the European heavyweight title in 1990 against Frenchman Jean Maurice Chanet. In his next fight in March 1991, Lewis won the British title against undefeated, world-ranked [[Gary Mason (boxer)|Gary Mason]], and in April 1992 won the [[List of Commonwealth Boxing Council Champions#Heavyweight|Commonwealth title]] against [[Derek Williams (boxer)|Derek Williams]]. Lewis was a top-five world heavyweight, and during this period he also defeated former WBA heavyweight champion [[Mike Weaver (boxer)|Mike Weaver]], 1984 Olympic Gold medalist [[Tyrell Biggs]], former world [[Cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]] title holders [[Glenn McCrory]] and trial horses Levi Billups and Mike Dixon.

On 31 October 1992, Lewis knocked out Canadian [[Donovan Ruddock|Donovan "Razor" Ruddock]] in two rounds for the number one contender's position in the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] rankings. It was Lewis's most impressive win to date and established him as one of the world's best heavyweights. Sportscaster [[Larry Merchant]] declared, "We have a great new heavyweight."

===First reign as WBC heavyweight champion===
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Tony Tucker|Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno|Lennox Lewis vs. Phil Jackson}}
The win over Ruddock made Lewis the [[mandatory challenger]] for [[Riddick Bowe]]'s heavyweight championship. Bowe held a press conference during which he threw his WBC title belt in a rubbish bin, relinquishing it to avoid a mandatory defence against Lewis.<ref>{{cite news|title=BOXING; Bowe Trashes His W.B.C. Title Belt|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/15/sports/boxing-bowe-trashes-his-wbc-title-belt.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=15 December 1992|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref> On 14 December 1992, the WBC declared Lewis its champion, making him the first world heavyweight titleholder from Britain in the 20th century.

Lewis defended the belt three times, defeating [[Tony Tucker]], whom he knocked down for the first time in Tucker's career, and [[Frank Bruno]] and [[Phil Jackson (boxer)|Phil Jackson]] by knockout. The [[Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno]] fight was the first time two British-born boxers fought for a version of the world heavyweight title in the modern era.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/10/sports/boxing-bruno-vs-lewis-a-personal-battle-of-britain.html Bruno vs. Lewis: A Personal Battle of Britain]. Nytimes.com (10 August 1993). Retrieved on 25 November 2011.</ref>

====Lewis vs. McCall====
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Oliver McCall}}
Lewis lost his WBC title to [[Oliver McCall]] on 24 September 1994 in a huge upset at the [[Wembley Arena]] in London. In the second round, McCall landed a powerful right [[Cross (boxing)|cross]], putting Lewis on his back. Lewis returned to his feet at the count of six, but stumbled forward into the referee in a daze. Referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia felt Lewis was unable to continue and ended the fight, giving McCall the title by technical knockout. Lewis and others argued the stoppage was premature and that a champion should be given the benefit of the doubt.<ref name="Las Vegas Review-Journal 2000-11-08">{{cite news | first=Royce | last=Feour| title=Heavyweights' lone losses | date=8 November 2000 | publisher=Stephens Media, LLC | url =http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-08-Wed-2000/sports/14777088.html | work =Las Vegas Review-Journal | access-date = 21 December 2023 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030128153151/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-08-Wed-2000/sports/14777088.html | archivedate=28 January 2003}}</ref> In spite of the Lewis camp protests, ''[[Boxing Monthly]]'' editor Glynn Leach pointed out that Lewis "only seemed to recover his senses once the fight was waved off", and that "in the opinions of everyone I spoke to at ringside, the decision was correct."

After the fight, Lewis decided he needed a new trainer to replace [[Pepe Correa]], who had become increasingly difficult to work with. Correa denounced Lewis in public after being fired. Renowned trainer [[Emanuel Steward]], who had been McCall's trainer during their fight, was Lewis's choice. Even before the fight with McCall, Steward had seen much potential in Lewis and immediately expressed a desire to work with him. He corrected several of Lewis's technical flaws, which included maintaining a more balanced [[orthodox stance|stance]], less reliance on his cross, and a focus on using a strong, authoritative [[jab]]; the latter of which would become a hallmark of Lewis's style throughout the rest of his career. Their partnership lasted until Lewis's retirement.<ref name=mama>Evans, Gavin (19 September 2005). ''Mama's Boy: Lennox Lewis and the Heavyweight Crown''. Highdown Publishing. {{ISBN|9781905156092}}.</ref>

===Second reign as WBC heavyweight champion===
{{main|Lennox Lewis vs. Lionel Butler}}
In his first comeback fight, Lewis was given a chance to fight for the mandatory challenger position within the WBC and won it by knocking out American contender [[Lionel Butler]]. However, at the behest of promoter [[Don King]],{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} the WBC bypassed him and gave [[Mike Tyson]] the first chance at the title recently won by Briton [[Frank Bruno]] from Oliver McCall. Bruno had previously lost to both Lewis and Tyson.

Lewis had the number 1 contender's slot in the WBC rankings when he knocked out Australian Justin Fortune, then defeated former WBO Champion [[Tommy Morrison]] in October 1995, winning the minor IBC title. This was followed by a close majority decision win over Olympic gold medallist and former WBO champion [[Ray Mercer]] in May 1996. Lewis successfully sued to force Tyson to make a mandatory defence of the WBC title against him. Lewis was offered a $13.5 million guarantee to fight Tyson to settle the lawsuit, but turned it down. This would have been Lewis's highest fight purse to date. Lewis accepted $4 million from Don King to step aside and allow Tyson to fight [[Bruce Seldon]] instead, with a guarantee that if Tyson defeated Seldon, he would fight Lewis next.<ref>{{cite news|title=BOXING;Bronchitis Stops Tyson: Seldon Fight Is Off|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/04/sports/boxing-bronchitis-stops-tyson-seldon-fight-is-off.html?pagewanted=2|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 July 1996|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref> After winning the WBA title from Seldon, Tyson relinquished the WBC title to fight [[Evander Holyfield]] instead. The WBC title was declared vacant. This set up a rematch between Lewis and McCall, who met on 7 February 1997 in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] for the WBC title. 
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Oliver McCall II}}
In one of the strangest fights in boxing history, McCall, who had lost the first three rounds, refused to box in the fourth and fifth rounds. He then began crying in the ring, forcing the referee to stop the fight and award Lewis the victory and the title. As newly recrowned WBC champion, Lewis successfully defended the title in 1997 against fellow Briton and former WBO world champion [[Henry Akinwande]], who was disqualified after five rounds for excessive clinching. Lewis then met Poland's [[Andrew Golota]], whom he knocked out in the first round. Lewis retained the WBC world title in 1998 when he knocked out [[Lineal championship|lineal champion]] [[Shannon Briggs]], who had recently outpointed [[George Foreman]] in a controversial fight to win the lineal title in five rounds, and beat formerly undefeated European champion [[Zeljko Mavrovic|Željko Mavrović]] from Croatia in a 12-round unanimous decision. Lewis stated in 2006 that his fight with Mavrovic was the most awkward win of his career.<ref>[http://www.secondsout.com/uk-boxing-features?ccs=338&cs=20602 SecondsOut Boxing News – UK Features – Lennox Lewis: Consummate Cool]. Secondsout.com (27 October 2006). Retrieved on 25 November 2011.</ref>
{{Further|Lennox Lewis vs. Tommy Morrison|Lennox Lewis vs. Ray Mercer|Lennox Lewis vs. Henry Akinwande|Lennox Lewis vs. Andrew Golota|Lennox Lewis vs. Shannon Briggs|Lennox Lewis vs. Željko Mavrović}}

===Undisputed heavyweight champion===
==== Lewis vs. Holyfield ====
{{Main|Evander Holyfield vs. Lennox Lewis}}
On 13 March 1999, Lewis faced [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] and [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] title holder [[Evander Holyfield]] in New York City in what was supposed to be a heavyweight unification bout. Lewis fought a tactical fight, keeping Holyfield off balance with a long jab and peppering him with combinations almost at will. Although most observers believed Lewis had clearly won the fight, the bout was declared a draw, to much controversy. The raw statistics of the fight suggested the bout belonged to Lewis, who landed 348 punches compared to Holyfield's 130. Lewis also out-jabbed Holyfield 137 to 52.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/03/99/lewis_vs_holyfield/296539.stm BBC report of the fight]. BBC News (14 March 1999). Retrieved on 25 November 2011.</ref> Judge Eugenia Williams, who scored the fight in Holyfield's favour, said she saw Lewis land fewer punches than Holyfield.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/03/99/lewis_vs_holyfield/296603.stm BBC report after the fight]. BBC News (14 March 1999). Retrieved on 25 November 2011.</ref>

====Lewis vs. Holyfield II====
{{Main|Evander Holyfield vs. Lennox Lewis II}}
The sanctioning bodies ordered a rematch.<ref name="The New York Times 1999-03-15">{{cite news | title=A Rematch For Holyfield And Lewis Is Ordered| first=Ira |last=Berkow| date=15 March 1999| url =https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/15/sports/boxing-a-rematch-for-holyfield-and-lewis-is-ordered.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/H/Holyfield,%20Evander| work =The New York Times| access-date = 22 May 2009}}</ref> Eight months later in Las Vegas (13 November 1999), the two men fought again in a more open and entertaining contest than the original fight, with the two boxers having some heavy exchanges from rounds six to nine. The punch stats however still clearly favoured Lewis, who landed 195 punches to Holyfield's 137, although Lewis landed 119 power shots and 76 jabs, showing a definite shift in his tactics from the first fight, when he focused more on the jab. This time the three judges scored the fight unanimously (115–113, 116–112 and 117–111) in favour of Lewis, who became [[List of undisputed boxing champions|undisputed heavyweight champion of the World]]. The British public voted Lewis the 1999 [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award|BBC Sports Personality of the Year]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sports-personality/19587151 "Sports Personality Roll of Honour"]. BBC. Retrieve 26 December 2013</ref>

Lewis did not view either bout with [[Evander Holyfield]] as among his most difficult, but conceded Holyfield tested his limits more than any other boxer. {{Blockquote|"People seem to be genuinely surprised when I tell them Holyfield was my toughest opponent, not to be confused with my toughest fight, which was [[Ray Mercer]], but when you really dive into why that is, it actually makes a lot of sense."<ref>{{cite web |title=Lewis on Holyfield fights|url=https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/691204/lennox-lewis-evander-holyfield-mike-tyson-boxing-news/ |website=talksport |last=Coleman |first=Joe |access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Clear}}

===First reign as unified heavyweight champion===
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Michael Grant|Lennox Lewis vs. Francois Botha|Lennox Lewis vs. David Tua}}
After Lewis defeated Holyfield the WBA ordered Lewis to defend the title against [[John Ruiz]] of Chelsea, Massachusetts, who was then an obscure [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]] fighter who had been made the WBA's number one-ranked contender. The WBA gave permission for Lewis to fight his WBC mandatory [[Michael Grant (boxer)|Michael Grant]] first if he would fight Ruiz next, to which Lewis agreed. Opposed to this, King challenged this decision in court on the basis of a clause in the Lewis-Holyfield rematch contract that said Lewis's first bout as undisputed champion would be against the WBA's number one contender. Lewis was therefore to be stripped of his WBA belt if he fought Grant first. It was because of this that the WBA instated its "Super Champion" title, giving unified titleholders who also hold a WBA belt more time to defend against mandatory challengers.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

Lewis proceeded to fight the 203&nbsp;cm (6 foot 7 inch) American Michael Grant, whom he considered the best contender available. He successfully defended his WBC, IBO and IBF titles against Grant with a second-round knockout victory in Madison Square Garden in April 2000.

Later that same year, Lewis knocked out South African [[Francois Botha]] in two rounds in London, before winning a 12-round decision against New Zealander and IBF mandatory opponent, [[David Tua]] in Las Vegas.

==== Lewis vs. Rahman ====
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Hasim Rahman}}
On 21 April 2001, Lewis was knocked out by 20-to-1 underdog [[Hasim Rahman]] in a bout at Carnival City Casino<ref>{{cite web |url=https://goldengloves.co.za/boxing-news/lennox-lewis-vs-hasim-rahman/ |title=Lennox Lewis vs. Hasim Rahman |website=goldengloves.co.za |date=15 July 2020 |access-date=22 July 2021 }}</ref> in South Africa. The main event actually took place on Sunday 22 April 2001 at 05:00 local time<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lancaster|first=Rob|title=Thunder in Africa: Recalling Hasim Rahman's Shock Win Over Lennox Lewis|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2438671-thunder-in-africa-recalling-hasim-rahmans-shock-win-over-lennox-lewis|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}}</ref> in order to accommodate [[HBO]]s significant United States–based audience at a reasonable hour on the Saturday night. Before the bout, Lewis had a role in the film ''[[Ocean's Eleven (2001 film)|Ocean's Eleven]]'' in which he "boxed" against [[Wladimir Klitschko]].

===Second reign as unified heavyweight champion===
====Lewis vs. Rahman II====
{{Main|Hasim Rahman vs. Lennox Lewis II}}
Lewis immediately sought a rematch with the new champion; Rahman, however, now being promoted by Don King, tried to secure another opponent for his inaugural title defence. Lewis took Rahman to court to honour the rematch clause in their contract. Rahman was ordered to honour the clause and give Lewis a rematch in his first title defence. While promoting the rematch with Rahman on [[ESPN]]'s [[Up Close]], the fighters got into a brawl<ref name="ESPN.com 2001-08-30">{{cite news | first=Darren | last=Rovell| title=Lewis, Rahman get physical during taping | date=30 August 2001 | url =http://static.espn.go.com/boxing/news/2001/0830/1246019.html | publisher =ESPN | access-date = 22 March 2007}}</ref> similar to the one between [[Muhammad Ali]] and [[Joe Frazier]] in front of [[Howard Cosell]] on ''[[Wide World of Sports (US TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]''. Lewis regained the title on 17 November by outclassing and then knocking out [[Hasim Rahman]] in the fourth round of their rematch.

====Lewis vs. Tyson====
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson}}
On 8 June 2002, Lewis defended his title against [[Mike Tyson]]. Ticket sales were slow because they were priced as high as US$2,400, but a crowd of 15,327 turned up to see boxing's then biggest event at the [[Pyramid Arena]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. Tyson also had to pay Lewis $335,000 out of his [[Prize money|purse]] for biting him at the news conference announcing the fight, which was originally scheduled for 6 April 2002 in Las Vegas. Las Vegas, however, rejected the fight because of Tyson's licensing problems and several other states refused Tyson a licence before Memphis finally bid US$12&nbsp;million to land it.

By the end of the seventh round Tyson was tired and sluggish, his face swollen and his eyes cut. He was knocked out in the eighth by a right cross. After the fight, George Foreman declared, "He [Lewis] is, no doubt, the best heavyweight of all time. What he's done clearly puts him on top of the heap."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECeIdlWBFfg Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson – Part 5/5]. YouTube. Retrieved on 25 November 2011.</ref>
This was the highest-grossing event in pay-per-view history, generating US$106.9&nbsp;million from 1.95&nbsp;million buys in the US, until it was surpassed by [[Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.|De La Hoya-Mayweather]] in 2007.<ref name="Multichannel News 2007-05-14">{{cite news | first=R. Thomas | last=Umstead | title=HBO Rings in a PPV Knockout | date=14 May 2007 | publisher=Variety Group | url =http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6441534.html | work =Multichannel News | access-date = 21 December 2023 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208222942/http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6441534.html | archivedate=8 December 2007}}</ref> Both fighters were guaranteed US$17.5 million.

====Lewis vs. Klitschko====
{{Main|Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko}}
Lewis was forced to vacate the IBF title in 2002 after refusing to face mandatory challenger [[Chris Byrd]]. In May 2003, Lewis sued boxing promoter Don King for US$385&nbsp;million, claiming that King used threats and bribery to have Tyson pull out of a rematch with Lewis and a fight on the [[Card (sports)|card]] of a Lewis title defence.

Lewis scheduled a fight with [[Kirk Johnson]] for June, but when Johnson suffered an injury in training, Lewis fought [[Vitali Klitschko]], the WBC's No. 1 contender and former [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] champion. Lewis had planned to fight him in December, but since Klitschko had been on the undercard of the Johnson fight anyway, they agreed to square off on 21 June. Lewis entered the ring at a career high 116&nbsp;kg (256{{frac|1|2}} pounds).<ref name="USA TODAY 2003-06-23">{{cite news | first=Dan | last=Rafael | title=Lewis shows his age in struggle to defend title | date=23 June 2003 | publisher=Gannett Co. Inc. | url =https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2003-06-22-lewis-vitaly_x.htm | work =USA Today | access-date = 21 December 2023 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030626025916/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2003-06-22-lewis-vitaly_x.htm | archivedate=26 June 2003}}</ref> Lewis was dominated in the early rounds and was wobbled in round two by solid Klitschko punches. Lewis opened a cut above Klitschko's eye with a right cross in the third round and gave a better showing from the fourth round onwards. With both fighters looking tired before the start of round seven, the doctor advised that the fight should be stopped because of a severe cut above Klitschko's left eye, awarding Lewis victory by TKO. Klitschko was leading 58–56 on all three judges' scorecards when the fight was stopped. Lewis was guaranteed US$7 million and Klitschko US$1.4 million. The gate was US$2,523,384 from an attendance of 15,939 at the [[Staples Center]] in California. The fight aired live on [[HBO]]'s ''[[HBO World Championship Boxing|World Championship Boxing]]'' with approximately 7 million viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/ufcs-debut-fox-draws-57-million-viewers-290079|title=UFC's Debut on Fox Draws 5.7 Million Viewers|date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

Interviewed about the fight by HBO, Dr. Paul Wallace explained his decision to stop the fight:
<blockquote>
When he raised his head up, his upper eyelid covered his field of vision. At that point I had no other option but to stop the fight. If he had to move his head to see me, there was no way he could defend his way against a punch.
</blockquote>
Klitschko's face required sixty stitches.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/25/sports/boxing-60-stitches-for-klitschko.html "BOXING; 60 Stitches for Klitschko"], ''The New York Times'', 25 June 2003, retrieved 23 December 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing-news/Klitschko-Transcript.php "National Conference Call Transcript: Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko, Cut Man Joe Souza, Dr. Pearlman Hicks, Attorney Ron DiNicola"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718112520/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing-news/Klitschko-Transcript.php |date=18 July 2012 }}, ''eastsideboxing.com'', retrieved 23 December 2010.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/3010520.stm "Relief for Lewis, stitches for Klitschko"], BBC, 22 June 2003 retrieved 23 December 2010.</ref>

Because Klitschko had fought so bravely {{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} against Lewis, boxing fans soon began calling for a rematch. The WBC agreed, and kept the [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] as its No. 1 contender. Lewis initially was in favour of a rematch:
<blockquote>
I want the rematch, I enjoyed that fight. It was just a fight. We went at it. You have to play dollars and cents but I'm opting more for the rematch.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rafael|first=Dan|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2003-07-02-notebook_x.htm|title=Lewis eager for rematch with Klitschko|work=USA Today|date=2 July 2003|access-date=21 December 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226224024/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2003-07-02-notebook_x.htm|archivedate=26 February 2016}}</ref>
</blockquote>
Negotiations for the rematch followed but Lewis changed his mind.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/3124345.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Lewis 'snubs' Klitschko | date=4 August 2003}}</ref> Instead, Klitschko fought and defeated Kirk Johnson on 6 December in WBC Eliminator, setting up a mandatory rematch with Lewis. Lewis announced his retirement shortly thereafter in February 2004, to pursue other interests, including sports management and music promotion, and vacated the title. Lewis said he would not return to the ring. At his retirement, Lewis's record was 41 wins, two losses and one draw, with 32 wins by knockout.

===Retirement===
In 2008 when asked about a potential bout after being antagonised by [[Riddick Bowe]], Lewis quipped 
{{blockquote|"He waits until I am in retirement to call out my name, I will come out of retirement to beat up that guy. I'll beat him up for free."<ref name="ESPN rumors">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=3727811|title=Lennox Lewis lays rumours of return to rest once and for all|date=26 November 2008 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>}}

In 2011, Bowe again confronted Lewis, this time over Twitter, demanding he "put [his] gold medal on and let's fight for that!!", where Lewis remarked "I thought we already did."

Lewis worked as a boxing analyst for HBO on ''[[Boxing After Dark]]'' from 2006 until 2010.