Lennox Lewis Did not Belief US Judges Towards Mike Tyson — For Good Motive

Lennox Lewis wasn’t simply getting ready to beat Mike Tyson in 2002. He was ensuring he by no means skilled one other Evander Holyfield scenario.

By the point Lewis and Tyson lastly shared a hoop in Memphis, the undisputed heavyweight champion had already discovered a painful lesson about leaving his destiny in different folks’s palms.

Three years earlier, Lewis appeared to outbox Holyfield over twelve rounds at Madison Sq. Backyard. Most observers believed he had performed sufficient to change into the undisputed heavyweight champion.

As a substitute, he walked away with a cut up draw.

Choose Eugenia Williams someway scored the competition for Holyfield, producing one of the controversial scorecards in heavyweight historical past.

Lewis brazenly questioned the end result.

The Holyfield Fallout

The injustice was ultimately corrected eight months later when Lewis defeated Holyfield of their rematch and eventually secured the undisputed championship.

Even then, the scorecards nonetheless raised eyebrows.

Invoice Graham scored the struggle 117-111 for Lewis. Chuck Giampa had it 116-112. American decide Jerry Roth noticed it a lot nearer at 115-113.

Lewis bought the choice he deserved this time, however the distinction between the scorecards solely strengthened issues already lingering from the primary struggle.

The Briton had been burned as soon as, and even when he lastly bought the decision within the rematch, one decide nonetheless noticed the struggle far nearer than most observers.

Pretty or unfairly, these experiences left a mark. For Lewis and his crew, the doubts by no means fully disappeared.

No Possibilities Taken

When Tyson grew to become the following opponent, Lewis entered the largest struggle of his profession carrying these experiences with him.

Tyson remained Boxing’s largest attraction. The struggle was going down in America, and thousands and thousands of {dollars} had been on the road.

Experiences on the time said that Lewis’ camp pushed for a judging panel that didn’t embody American officers.

After what occurred within the first Holyfield struggle, and after seeing one other American decide rating the rematch far nearer than most believed it ought to have been, Lewis was now not keen to depart something to probability.

Whether or not considered as wise warning or lingering mistrust, the transfer confirmed how deeply the Holyfield saga had affected Lewis and people round him.

Tyson By no means Reached the Judges

In the long run, Lewis by no means wanted the scorecards he anxious about. The champion battered Tyson into an eighth spherical submission.

After years of questioning whether or not the judges would deal with him pretty, Lewis eliminated them from the equation altogether.

When the largest struggle of his profession lastly arrived, Lewis made positive Mike Tyson by no means bought near leaving the end result within the judges’ palms.

In regards to the Writer

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing Information (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of expertise. He has interviewed world champions, damaged worldwide exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Learn full bio.