Ray Mercer, a former WBO heavyweight champion, claims Lewis admitted he should have lost their 1996 fight at Madison Square Garden. The judges awarded Lewis a unanimous decision victory, but Mercer insists he won the bout.
Lewis, a three-time world champion and two-time lineal champion, had an impressive career. He won Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988 and went on to beat some of the biggest names in boxing, including Mike Tyson, Vitali Klitschko, Frank Bruno, and Evander Holyfield. Lewis even avenged his only two losses, stopping both Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman in rematches.
But Mercer, now 64, stands firm on his belief about their encounter. In a recent interview with Slater's Boxing YouTube channel, Mercer said:
"Yeah, I won that fight, man. He admitted it to me. He knows – a fighter knows. I won that fight. He said to me, he said, 'I know you won.' I told him, 'where's my half of your cheque!' He said okay. Every time I see him, I tell him I'm still wishing!"
Mercer suggests there might have been more to the decision than meets the eye. "They were setting him up to fight [Mike] Tyson. So that's what happened, that's why they gave him the victory," he theorized.
The fight with Mercer was Lewis's 30th professional bout. In his next outing, Lewis won the WBC title by beating Oliver McCall. He went on to become the undisputed champion, solidifying his place among boxing's greats.
Mercer retired in 2008 with a record of 36 wins from 44 fights. He scored notable victories over Tim Witherspoon and Tommy Morrison during his career. Mercer also faced other boxing legends, losing to Larry Holmes, Wladimir Klitschko, and Evander Holyfield.
While the official record stands, Mercer's claim adds an interesting footnote to Lewis's storied career. It serves as a reminder that in boxing, the fighters' perspectives don't always align with the judges' scorecards.