This Day in History (September 24, 1994)
By Aaron Tallent September 24th, 2006Today in Boxing History: Oliver McCall KOs Lennox Lewis
On this day in 1994, Lennox Lewis lost his WBC heavyweight title to Oliver McCall by a second round TKO. It was a hard lesson for Lewis, but the knowledge he took from that experience helped made him the most dominant heavyweight of his era.
Early in his career, Lewis fought in a straight-up, open stance and his attack greatly depended on his right hand. It was enough to convince Riddick Bowe to relinquish his WBC title to avoid facing Lewis, and for Lewis to win his first 25 fights and a piece of the heavyweight championship. For his third defense, Lewis chose to face the hard-punching, but inconsistent journeyman McCall at London’s Wembley Arena.
The first round was very close, with two judges giving Lewis the edge. But in the second, a wild right hand from McCall sent Lewis to the canvas. He made it up before the count of ten but referee José Guadalupe García did not allow him to continue.
After the loss, Lewis hired Emanuel Steward and developed a two-fisted attack, along with better footwork. He returned to the ring in May 1995 a more complete fighter, and would not lose again for more than six years. During that time, Lewis avenged his loss to McCall and unified the heavyweight title.
September 24th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
I can’t believe Riddick Bowe ducked Lewis. THat would’ve been a great fight - Wouldn’t it be funny if Big Daddy calls out Lewis now?
September 24th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
My thought has always been that Riddock Bowe was more accessible as a American Fighter former Olympian and Lennox Lewis was known or thought of in 1994 as a transplanted Canadien Fighter based in England.Which of course made Lennox Lewis a little less desirable commodity at that time.Lennox Lewis had already won the Olympic Matchup against Bowe in 88. That would be the same as giving credit for let’s say Henry Tillman beating Mike Tyson in the Olympic Boxoffs or who was the fighter that TKO’d Larry Holmes in the Olympic Trials.What was his name?.The reality is the present time counts more than what happened in the Amateurs.Just because Lennox Lewis beat Riddock Bowe in the Amateurs did not qualify him as a sure thing in the pros.I really don’t think for one second Riddock Bowe ducked Lennox Lewis.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Winslow,
Duane Bobick beat Holmes in the 1972 Olympic trials.
September 29th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
How good was Lennox Lewis? I don’t know. He did dominate whomever was put before him but look at the heavywieght division right now, and that is not saying much. I know that it is not his fault but that doesn’t do anything to tell you how great he was, with such a weak field. The other thing is he did come back from defeat. But then again it was to fighters that he shouldn’t have lost to in the first place. The really great ones don’t lose to second rate fighters. Sometimes they have trouble with them. Lose to them? Never.