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For more than a decade, Lennox Lewis, 55, has caused a sensation in the boxing rings with his powerful punch and technical finesse.
His epic fights, whether against Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson or Vitali Klitschko, are still passionately discussed.
He is still considered the last so-called
undisputed champion
,
i.e. the
world heavyweight champion who has held the titles of the three most important world associations WBA, WBC and IBF.
And that, although his last duel in the premier class - against Klitschko - was almost twenty years ago.
Now the former champion returns to the spotlight.
This time with a one and a half hour documentary about his life: "Lennox: The Untold Story" (in Germany so far only available on DVD).
He had two cameramen accompany him for three years.
They shot in London and Kitchener in Canada, where he grew up, in Las Vegas and New York, where he played his legendary duels, in Miami and Toronto, where he either lives with the family.
The producers evaluated 150 hours of his fights and interviews based on spectacular sequences.
So also from private meetings with his heroes - Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela.
The duel on June 21, 2003 between Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko was considered the "Clash of the Titans".
Lewis was declared the winner by technical knockout after the sixth round
Source: FilmMagic / Christopher Polk
The first reactions to the film were “great”, said Lewis during a Skype interview with WELT AM SONNTAG.
He is currently in Toronto.
On his property there, he feels safest protected from the pandemic.
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WORLD:
Mister Lewis, why is your documentary coming out right now?
Lennox Lewis:
It was long overdue to tell my true life story.
For years there have been constant requests to film my biography.
Many advised me to do a biopic
(a film biography; d. Ed.)
, But my feeling told me that a documentary would make more sense.
I was inspired by the great documentaries about Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Jack Johnson.
I literally devoured them.
WORLD:
What was particularly important to you during the filming?
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Lewis:
I want to show people where I come from, why I am who I am, how I managed to become such a great champion despite a lot of dirty tricks I had to go through in my world.
I want to show that my life wasn't just a bouquet of roses.
That it doesn't matter what social background you come from in order to be successful.
Just look at the turbulence and the milieu of my childhood and youth.
I grew up in poor conditions, my father never looked after me.
WORLD:
Your parents come from Jamaica, you grew up in the East End of London.
When you were nine, your mother emigrated with you to Canada because she found a job there.
However, you returned to England alone a short time later, lived with relatives for three years before moving back in with your mother.
November 13, 1999: Lennox Lewis (left) dethrones Evander Holyfield in the rematch
Source: AFP via Getty Images / JEFF HAYNES
Lewis:
It was a very fine line I walked so as not to get astray.
My mother's love and boxing gave me the necessary support.
I am convinced that everyone can achieve something great.
All you need for this is drive, will and the ability to set goals for yourself.
And you have to understand the sacrifices you have to make.
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WORLD:
What sacrifices did you make for your film adaptation?
Lewis:
I wouldn't call that a victim, although giving up my privacy has already cost me overcoming.
This includes looking into my dressing room before a fight.
What went on there during the warm-up, what I went through there, is guaranteed to astonish many.
Up until now, only my closest friends had any idea about my private life.
It was important to me to keep my private life and boxing career strictly separate.
I didn't want to be another Mike Tyson, whose life has always been like an open book.
WORLD:
That is why he was in the focus far more often than you, although you worked more disciplined, more committed and more honestly for your triumph.
Lewis:
It annoyed me that he got more attention for his bad behavior.
TV also made him look like King Kong.
My credo has always been: To be a champion, you have to behave like a champion.
But I didn't open up now to arouse more interest.
The look into the soul had to be in order to understand my mentality with which I mastered the many problems on the way up.
I believe that everything that happened in my life was predetermined.
The decisive factor was how I dealt with difficulties.
I never complained about anything, just kept going.
When you fell off your horse, you got up, patted yourself, got back in the saddle, and made sure never to fall off again.
If I had cried after the shameful defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, I would not have made any progress.
That's why I did something directly against it, took my revenge and thus restored my status as champion.
Nothing will ever bring me to my knees.
Lennox Lewis, here in 2019, was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009
Source: FilmMagic / Isaiah Trickey
WORLD:
In the film you tell for the first time about the serious illness of your youngest daughter Leviah, who suffers from trisomy 18.
Lewis:
When I found out about it, I was extremely shocked and deeply sad.
But I was also immediately ready to deal with it normally.
I made this public now to show that I am just a person like everyone else.
I would also like to encourage parents who also have sick children to continue to believe in goodness.
WORLD:
It speaks for you that you put your British manager Frank Maloney in the picture so openly.
He had a sex change operation seven years ago, lives as a woman and has been called Kellie ever since.
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Lewis:
That was very important to me.
He played a formative role in my boxing career.
When I heard what he was up to, I couldn't understand it at first, because it was a huge turning point in life - and that at the age of 61.
But then I supported him wherever I could.
If it saves his life or makes him a happier person, I'm positive about that.
See, I still say "he".
Just because I'm used to it.
WORLD:
It is also clear that, compared to most of your rivals, you have never been a boxer of loud tones and provocative sayings.
Lewis:
This is due to my upbringing, which was shaped by life in different countries.
I had British upbringing, Canadian, American, and Caribbean.
My parents' Jamaican origins gave me that certain lightness of being.
As a result, I am more open-minded and tolerant towards everything and treat everyone with respect.
If someone is different from me, I have no problem with that.
Then I think, “What can you teach me?
What can I teach you? ”So it's about human values, not,“ Oh, you're different.
I don't like you when you speak differently and look different. ”No, I find it incredibly interesting to explore:“ Hey, where are you from?
What do you eat at your place?
How do your compatriots tick? "
WORLD:
So you are driven by constant curiosity?
Lewis:
I'm really interested in the different types of people.
Because I have traveled a lot since I was a child and saw that people in other countries are worse off than we are, I also realized early on that there was nothing to complain about.
My attitude towards life is positive through and through.
I got it through my mother's milk.
My mom taught me that it is very important to always do positive things, always do good.
She always said: We'll use it to pay for our room in heaven.
June 8, 2002: Lewis (r.) Knocked out Mike Tyson in the eighth round
Source: Getty Images / Focus On Sport
WORLD:
You mentioned Mike Tyson already.
He plays a special role in the film.
Lewis:
I also have a very special relationship with him.
Not just through our unforgettable fight.
WORLD:
Which you won in the eighth round by knockout in June 2002.
In the run-up to a press conference, Tyson started a mass brawl in which he bit you in the thigh.
He also threatened you: “I want your heart.
I'll tear it out and trample it.
I want to eat your children. "
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Lewis:
Interestingly, I didn't have any children back then.
Well, I've forgiven him for a long time.
Today he is my "Brother in Arms" (
brother in arms, ally; d. Editor
).
We both have a very long relationship, which was sparked by my victory at the Royal Junior Championships in Santo Domingo in 1983.
After the success, an American came up to me and said, “You're not the best.” To which I asked, “Then who is it?” “Mike Tyson,” he replied.
So my trainer and I really wanted to know who this guy was.
So we made our way to see him in Catskill.
WORLD:
The then 17-year-old trained in the small town north of New York City.
Lewis:
I liked him.
We talked a lot, watched videos of fights, explored the city, went dancing together.
He was a nice guy until we got in the ring.
Then came Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde emerged in him.
I thought: first you will receive me so nicely, and then you want to beat me up.
So I learned my lesson there too: It doesn't matter where you come from, but where you are.
I was in his turf, so I had to be careful.
In the last round of our sparring, his trainer Cus D'Amato said: "Mike, don't hit him anymore, you will see this boy again." He was right.
And who knows: maybe we'll meet a second time in the ring.
WORLD:
What do you mean?
Lewis:
That there could be a comeback.
I wouldn't mind throwing a charity fight.
Mike recently boxed Roy Jones and cut a fine figure.
Why shouldn't we fight each other again for a good cause?
Three sports greats united: Mike Tyson (left), Evander Holyfield (center) and Lennox Lewis in the fight Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II
Source: pa / empics / Bradley Collyer
WORLD:
Tyson, Holyfield, George Foreman have their say in the film.
But why not Vitali Klitschko, against whom you defended your world title for the last time in a real battle in the summer of 2003?
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Lewis:
That was that
Decision of the producers.
I have very close contact with Vitali and his brother Wladimir.
My next goal is to immortalize the three of us in a documentary.
There are four documentaries about Mike Tyson and six about Muhammad Ali.
I only have one so far, but I'm sure there is room for more.
WORLD:
After you, the Klitschko brothers dominated the heavyweight division for many years.
Who is currently the best of all classes?
Lewis:
Tyson Fury.
He was the first to beat Wladimir Klitschko in his prime time.
I am very impressed with his style
.
WORLD:
Would you have defeated Fury?
Lewis:
(grins and nods)
He would certainly cause me some trouble for a few laps, but then I would set my trademark.
I have a dangerous repertoire of strokes that I can call up at any time.
You know: I am still the last “undisputed champion”.
This text is from WELT AM SONNTAG. We will be happy to deliver them to your home on a regular basis.
Source: Welt am Sonntag