Lewis had a celebrated career with notable wins over Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. He beat Holyfield in 1999 after their first match ended in a controversial draw. The British-Canadian boxer also suffered two infamous upset losses to Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall, but he later avenged both defeats with knockouts.
His final fight came against Vitali Klitschko, a late stand-in opponent. Lewis described it as one of the hardest fights of his career. He won by doctor stoppage before the seventh round due to Klitschko's two savage cuts. The bout is remembered as a brutal heavyweight clash.
Lewis ended his career with an impressive record of 41 wins (32 by knockout) in 44 fights. He beat every man he faced, avenging his only two losses. After initially considering a rematch with Klitschko, Lewis decided to retire in 2004.
In a recent interview with BoxNation, Lewis was asked if he thought he was the best ever. He responded:
"I am the best heavyweight in my era."
While he stopped short of claiming to be the best ever, Lewis confidently declared himself the top heavyweight of his time. His achievements back up this claim. Lewis was the undisputed heavyweight champion, a title that wasn't unified again until Oleksandr Usyk's win over Tyson Fury in May.
Known as the "pugilist specialist," Lewis also shared his thoughts on the upcoming Usyk-Fury rematch set for December. He criticized Fury's performance in the first fight, saying:
"Fury made a big mistake. He moved around too much in the early rounds and failed to impose his jab on the smaller man."
Lewis's comments show he's still keeping a close eye on the heavyweight division, offering insights from his wealth of experience at the top of the sport.