Lewis, who only lost twice in his professional career, had his pick of impressive knockouts. He put away big names like Mike Tyson, Shannon Briggs, Frank Bruno, Oliver McCall, and Tommy Morrison. But when asked about his favorite, Lewis didn't hesitate.
In an interview with The Ring, Lewis said:
"It would have to be against the guys that beat me where I came back and stopped them. They were very important punches and fights. Hasim Rahman was a great one for me."
The knockout Lewis refers to came in November 2001. He landed a left-right combination that put Rahman flat on his back in the fourth round. This win was more than just another notch on Lewis' belt. It was revenge.
Seven months earlier, Rahman had shocked the boxing world by knocking out Lewis in South Africa. The upset threw a wrench in plans for a highly anticipated Lewis-Tyson showdown.
Lewis explained why the Rahman rematch meant so much to him:
"When I lost he was shouting 'no more Lewis-Tyson.' He left South Africa and didn't visit [Nelson] Mandela. I went to visit him."
Mandela's words to Lewis after that first defeat proved prophetic. The South African leader told him, "keep that right hand higher and you'll get him next time."
And get him he did. Lewis' knockout of Rahman didn't just avenge his loss. It put him back on track to cement his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
Lewis' record as undisputed heavyweight champion stands among the best in boxing history. His ability to come back from defeats and knock out the men who beat him shows why he's remembered as one of the greats.
Lewis has more stories to tell about his time at the top of the heavyweight division. He's recently named who he feels is the most underrated heavyweight from his era. That's a story for another day, though.