The best punch trackers on the market
15th July 2021
By: Max Taylor
It was a short homecoming party but one that has a home on Lennox Lewis’ highlight reel. ‘The Lion’ returned to London on this day in 2000 for the first time since his shock loss to Oliver McCall six years prior.
The undisputed heavyweight champion (boxing’s most recent one) put all of his titles on the line against an overmatched Frans Botha who had previously shared the ring with world class opposition such as Mike Tyson, Shannon Briggs, and Michael Moorer.
The challenger had not seen a winning decision from any of these fights and was stopped inside the distance by both Tyson and Moorer. What was most encouraging going into this title fight though was Botha’s draw over ten rounds with Lewis’ former opponent, ‘The Cannon’ Briggs.
The Champion on the other hand had recently edged the rematch against Evander Holyfield for undisputed status and blown away the undefeated Michael Grant in two rounds for his first defense.
So recent form favored Lewis, and that was evident on the night as a devastating, three-punch combination made quick work of Botha who met the same fate as Grant, being finished in just two rounds. This made it two consecutive wins inside the opening six minutes for the British-Canadian.
It seemed from this day 21 years ago that Lewis was invincible, but merely a year later he conceded his only other career loss in another upset this time at the hands of Hasim Rahman. ‘The Lion’ in the same way he did with McCall, avenged this loss and went on to win twice more against historic opponents Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko.
THE BOXING GAME YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!
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