While he may go under the radar compared to some of the boxing legends, Lennox Lewis is undoubtedly one of the greatest Heavyweight champions of all time.
The British fighter beat some huge names, like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Vitali Klitschko, over an incredible 14-year career.
He became an undisputed Heavyweight champion twice and even retired as champion, with a massive victory on his way out of the sport.
Here is everything you need to know about Lennox Lewis.
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Who is Lennox Lewis?
Lennox Lewis is a British-Canadian former world Heavyweight champion boxer, who is regarded as one of the greatest champions in history. Lewis was known for his incredible technical skill and power in the Heavyweight division, where he dominated during his 14-year career in the ring.
He was born in London, but moved to Canada at the age of 12, winning the gold medal in the 1988 Olympic Games while representing his adopted home country.
How old is Lennox Lewis?
Lewis was born on September 2, 1965, making him 59 years old as of July 2025.
Why is Lennox Lewis nicknamed ‘The Lion’?
“The Lion” reflects Lewis’s cultural heritage, both of his Jamaican roots and of his status as a British citizen. The lion is used as a symbol to represent both countries, with the animal used as a symbol of strength, courage, and loyalty in England, going all the way back to the reign of King Henry I in the 12th century.
How much money did Lennox Lewis make?
Lewis earned a reported $150 million from fight purses and endorsements during his boxing career. His biggest estimated payday was from his 2002 bout with Mike Tyson, where “The Lion” took home a reported $50 million for the bout.
Lennox Lewis’ boxing record
| Record (W/L/D) | (T)KO |
| 41-2-1 | 32-2 |
Lennox Lewis’ world titles
Lewis held multiple Heavyweight world titles in his career. The first was in 1993, where he won the WBC Heavyweight championship after Riddick Bowe refused to face him, vacating the title.
He unified the titles by beating Evander Holyfield in 1999, becoming the undisputed Heavyweight champion in the process.
Lewis retired as champion after knocking out Vitali Klitschko in 2003, ending his career as a multiple-time world champion who was only beaten twice.
Lennox Lewis vs Hasim Rahman
Lewis suffered one of boxing’s biggest upsets when he was knocked out by 20-1 underdog Hasim Rahman while in negotiations for a bout with Mike Tyson.
Rahman shocked the world in the fifth round when he finished Lewis, ending his undisputed title reign in Cape Town, South Africa.
Lewis won the rematch via KO later that year, reclaiming his titles to set up a fight with “Iron Mike”.
Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson
2002 saw the biggest fight of Lewis’s career, which also coincided with his most dominant performance over a top fighter to date.
The bout was one of boxing’s highest-grossing fights at the time, and although Tyson was a decade past his prime, he still had the chance to take advantage if Lewis wasn’t on top form.
Luckily, the Lion was. He battered Tyson over eight rounds before mercilessly knocking him out to cement himself as the top heavyweight fighter of his generation.
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield
The two-fight series between Lewis and Holyfield began with a controversial ending and ended with the Briton’s ascension to greatness.
The pair fought to a draw in March 1999, despite many thinking that Lewis should have been the winner in that fight.
He made sure his victory was clear later that year, when all three judges awarded Lewis the unanimous decision win to unify the belts and become the undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world.
Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Klitschko
Despite it being the final fight of his career, Lewis did not leave the sport without anything other than an impressive performance.
Despite Klitschko looking the better of the two fighters, a cut above his eye caused by Lewis’s onslaught forced the referee to end the fight, awarding Lewis the win in his final fight.
He retired as champion, a feat few boxers manage in their careers.