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In Memoriam (Part 3) Compact sketches of those we lost in boxing in 2025

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6 months ago

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Eric Bottjer

JAMES COOK, 66, London super middleweight, died in June of bladder cancer. A native of Jamaica, Cook was 25-10 (14 KOs) from 1982 to 1994, winning the English and European championships. Cook scored valuable domestic victories over Mark Kaylor, Errol Christie and Sam Storey, but failed to beat world-class fighters Herol Graham and Graciano Rocchigiani. Cook’s best win on paper was over Michael Watson, who was 7-0 when he met Cook in 1986 and left the ring after losing a half-point decision. In retirement, Cook has been a trainer and most recently worked with lithe heavyweight contender Anthony Yard.

JOHN COONEY (28), Irish super featherweight, died in February as a result of injuries suffered on February 1 during a fight with Nathan Howells in Belfast. Cooney was arrested in the 9thvol round of the scheduled 10 and was taken to hospital immediately after the match. Just 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital, he underwent surgery to relieve pressure in his brain caused by internal bleeding. Cooney died a week later. Mark Dunlop, Cooney’s manager, when asked what kind of person Cooney was, replied: “When John was at my house, he made his bed in the morning before coming to the gym.”

DANNY CORBETT, 67, a middleweight from Miami, died “peacefully” in North Carolina in November. Corbett was 4-2 (2 KO) from 1977-1980. Corbett was born in Pittsburgh, lived in various places on the East Coast, and made his living as a painter. Sometimes he trained amateur boxing.

RAFAEL CORREA (78), a coach from Recent York, died in August. No cause of death was given, but Correa spent the last years of his life in a nursing home in Alabama. Correa was a longtime assistant to famed Recent York trainer Jimmy Glenn, who managed the Times Square gym for decades. Correa, born in Puerto Rico, was a respectable welterweight, going 15-11-3 (8 KOs) from 1967-1974.

LB CROFFORD, 70, middleweight, of Virginia, died in February at a hospital in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Crofford, who worked in construction, had two fights in 1984, earning victories over boxers with a 1-3 record.

FLOYD “Jumbo” CUMMINGS, 75, heavyweight trials horse, died in August. His death was announced on social media. No cause was given, but Cummings had been in destitute health in recent years due to breathing problems. Cummings, a heavily muscled 6-foot-10 figure, didn’t start boxing until he was 29 and was known for two things: serving multiple prison sentences (a total of 29 years, including 13 years for a murder he committed at age 17) and “holding” the returning Joe Frazier to a draw (listed in parentheses here because Jumbo was robbed (Frazier never fought again). Unfortunately, Jumbo he stole from others and in 2002 was sentenced to life under the “three strikes” law (a third conviction carries a life sentence) for stealing a Subway sandwich shot. He was released on parole in 2016. Cummings retired in 1983 with a record of 15-6-1 (13 KOs) He never won a match after the Frazier fight Frazier, claiming he was entitled to financial compensation from the station. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2009.

MIKE CUNNINGHAM, 76, the Kentucky referee who officiated the Greg Page-Dale Crowe match that resulted in Page’s life-changing injuries, died in November at a Louisville hospital. Cunningham was the chief of police in Lynnview. He officiated professional matches sporadically from 1987 to 2001, when one March night in Louisville he counted out Page in the final round of Crowe’s fight. Page suffered brain damage and was bedridden for the rest of his life. Cunningham was later appointed to the Kentucky Boxing Commission (claiming that if he had headed the commission at the time of Page’s fight, Page would not have been able to fight that night because he had not undergone a brain scan).

LOU DANIELS, 67, lightweight, Trenton, died in April. Daniels turned professional after winning the featherweight Golden Gloves in Recent Jersey in 1976, going 6-1 (1 KO). In 1979, Daniels went 6 rounds against Ray Mancini 1-0.

JEAN DANTAS, 90, French lightweight, died in March. Dantas was 15-18-6 (1 KO) from 1958 to 1966, losing his only chance to win the French lightweight title in 1964 by decision.

STEVE DARNELL, 61, super middleweight from Michigan, died in October in Brighton. “Stevie D” was 26-5-2 (15 KOs) from 1984-1993 and was undefeated in his first 22 fights. Darnell fought numerous fights against world-class opponents, defeating Lindell Holmes, Antoine Byrd and Kevin Watts. As reported, there is no cause of death. His family asked on Darnell’s behalf for donations to be made to CTE research at Boston University.

MARK DiGIOVANNI, 55, welterweight from Recent Jersey, died in March. DiGiovanni, who fought out of Kearny, won the Recent Jersey Golden Gloves in 1989 and turned professional in 1990, going 5-3-1 (2 KOs) over six years. Mark worked as an amateur trainer after ending his own career in the ring.

RAYMUNDO DIAS, 84, Brazilian lightweight, died in October. Dias was 25-10-8 (15 KOs) from 1964 to 1972, winning the Brazilian lightweight title in October 1970, but lost three weeks later in his only world title shot against WBC champion Bruno Arcari (KO by 3). A year later, Dias stopped future champion Chango Carmona by chop, but lost the rematch seven months later. Dias dropped a decision to Esteban DeJesus in September 1972 (Six weeks later DeJesus would be Roberto Duran) and prevailed in 1973, winning a decision in Colorado.

DANNY DILIBERTO, 85, Buffalo, lightweight, died in February. DiLiberto, who fought under the name Dan Toriani, went 12-0-2 from 1957 to 1959 and retired after a series of hand injuries. DiLiberto spent his boxing career in Miami, training at 5vol Street gym. DiLiberto became a renowned pool player and was inducted into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

JOHN DOTA, 94, of Youngstown, Ohio, died in July. Dota, a military veteran, had one professional fight in 1951 in Las Vegas, losing in 4 rounds.

FRANCISCO DURANGO (75), Colombian featherweight, died in October. Durango was 23-7-2 (15 KOs) from 1972-1978, with all but three of his fights coming in Colombia. Before retiring, he won his country’s super featherweight title in one fight.

FRANK ECHEVARRIA, 96, Idaho collegiate boxing champion, died in December. Echevarria was an alternate for the 1952 United States Olympic bantamweight team, losing in the Trials championship match to future world champion Davey Moore. Echevarria won the collegiate title later that year despite losing part of the fingers on his left hand in a farming accident. Echevarria was 32-5 as a college boxer, but he followed Tony Zale’s advice (“don’t go pro – go home, marry your girlfriend and start a family”), working farm and remaining married for 73 years.

DON ELBAUM, 94, a Runyonesque boxing figure whose promotions and matchmaking spanned SEVEN decades, died in Erie, Pennsylvania, in July after a brief illness. Elbaum wore all the professional hats in boxing: promoter, matchmaker, publicist, and even boxer. During his appearances in the 1960s, Elbaum replaced himself four times. He never won, but remained respectable, drawing once and losing to Tommy Shaffer 14-15. In one such fight, when Elbaum was hurt by a punch, he grabbed his opponent and whispered, “Remember who’s paying you.” But it was thanks to the promoter that Elbaum gained fame. He hosted his first show at the age of 18 and became the quintessential club promoter, living out of a suitcase, spending most of his time in two-star motels and producing some of the best club acts on the East Coast. Don was a master of artistic storytelling and lived for tricks. And they often made comical mistakes (one boxer joked that if Don opened a funeral home, people would stop dying). When he announced a main event between two of the “worst fighters in the world,” the loser had to retire as per the agreement. They fought for a draw. When Don promoted a heavyweight fighter to be 7 feet high and a reporter confronted the boxer and told Don he was nowhere near that height, Elbaum replied, “He’s miniature for his height.” Elbaum rose to the top in the 1980s, hosting weekly shows at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City and promoting welterweight champion Simon Brown. But Don lost the Trop series in 1986, and Brown left it in 1990 for Don King. He served four months in a minimum security facility for tax evasion (“I knew a lot of people there,” he said, this time without exaggeration). He was rightly inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. No one ever loved boxing more than Don Elbaum.

EBO ELDER, 46, Georgia lightweight, died in December of brain cancer. The elder made himself known by taking part in the second series of Contender (losing in the first round). An accomplished amateur, Elder turned professional in 2000 and enjoyed mid-level success, winning the NABO title in 2004 and defending it on Shobox for 12volround break against Courtney Burton in a fight that announcer Steve Farhood called the most exhilarating fight he’s seen this series. A deeply religious Elder suddenly retired in 2006 at the age of 28 and became a preacher. The elder finished the fight with a score of 22-3 (14 KO).

ED ESPOSTI, AKA “Eddie Post,” 78, Recent York boxer, died of cancer in June. “Elegant Ed” was the face of Spartan, a boxing equipment and clothing company. In the 1970s, Post developed a boxing program for Recent York City prisoners. Fasting became well known in the Recent York boxing scene as a prolific fundraiser.

LUIS ESTABA (86), former lithe heavyweight world champion, died in February. Known as “Lumumba,” the Venezuelan was 37 years senior when he won the newly created WBC lithe heavyweight title in 1975 and defended it 11 times before losing it to Freddy Castillo three years later (it was later discovered that the man Lumumba had beaten for the vacant title in 1975 – Rafael Lovera – was making his professional debut. Lovera, who never boxed again, died a few months before the fight with Estaba death). Estaba fought for the WBC belt again five months after losing it (to fighter Thia, who had defeated Castillo) and retired after being knocked out in five rounds. The WBC announced that Estaba had been in destitute health in recent years and had donated money to cover medical and living expenses since 2020.

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Boxing

A Family Feud Under the Fireworks: The New Standard

Published

2 days ago

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July 4, 2026

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Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell face off before their WBO lightweight title fight in Cleveland beneath Fourth of July fireworks for "A Family Feud Under the Fireworks" feature.
Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell face off before their WBO lightweight title fight in Cleveland beneath Fourth of July fireworks for "A Family Feud Under the Fireworks" feature.

Abdullah Mason (left) and Albert Bell face off ahead of their July 4 WBO Lightweight Championship clash in Cleveland. The all-Ohio showdown between former training partners has become one of boxing’s most compelling matchups of the summer.

By JuniorTheTruth™

On July 4, 2026, Cleveland won’t simply celebrate Independence Day. For one night, it will become the center of the boxing world.

Inside the Wolstein Center, undefeated WBO Lightweight Champion Abdullah Mason will make the first defense of his world title against fellow unbeaten Ohio native Albert Bell in a matchup that has quietly evolved into one of the most compelling fights of the summer.

This isn’t merely champion versus challenger.

It’s Cleveland versus Toledo.

Youth versus experience.

The sport’s newest champion versus one of its most overlooked contenders.

Former training partners become opponents. Two undefeated Ohio fighters are willing to do something boxing doesn’t always reward: face a dangerous man they know.

That alone deserves recognition.

In an era when too many meaningful fights disappear beneath promotional politics, network affiliations, and carefully managed careers, Mason and Bell have chosen competition over convenience. They have given boxing fans exactly the kind of fight the sport consistently says it wants—and too rarely delivers.

Why This Fight Matters

When Joe Cordina was forced to withdraw because of visa complications, many expected Top Rank to secure a more manageable replacement for its newly crowned champion.

Instead, Albert Bell accepted the opportunity.

With one phone call, an ordinary title defense became a genuinely intriguing championship fight.

Bell isn’t an unknown opponent looking for a payday. He’s an undefeated veteran who has spent years waiting for an opportunity worthy of his résumé.

Likewise, Mason isn’t defending his championship against a carefully selected opponent designed to extend his reign. He’s facing a fellow Ohio native who believes this is the moment he’s been preparing for throughout his professional career.

That’s the kind of risk boxing fans continually ask for.

Real stakes.

Real consequences.

Real uncertainty.

Those elements—not manufactured rivalries or promotional slogans—are what make championship boxing special.

Abdullah Mason’s Rise

At just 22 years old, Abdullah Mason already looks like one of boxing’s brightest young champions.

The world title confirms his accomplishments, but it doesn’t fully explain why so many people believe he’s destined for greatness.

His style does.

Mason has quickly developed into one of boxing’s most exciting young boxer-punchers. He combines speed, timing, creativity, accuracy, and finishing instincts in a way that appeals to hardcore boxing enthusiasts and casual fans alike.

He isn’t content to simply outpoint opponents.

He breaks them down.

He creates openings.

He forces mistakes.

And when opportunities present themselves, he finishes the job.

Those qualities have become increasingly rare in modern boxing.

The sport’s biggest stars don’t merely win fights—they give fans a reason to anticipate the next one.

Mason already possesses that quality.

Just as impressive has been his maturity.

Championship expectations can overwhelm young fighters, yet Mason has handled the spotlight with remarkable composure. His development inside the ring has been matched by his poise outside of it, suggesting that the championship has arrived because he was prepared for it—not because he was rushed into it.

That doesn’t mean he’s a finished product.

Far from it.

Like every young champion, there are still lessons to learn and adjustments to make. Experience remains boxing’s greatest teacher, and Mason’s education is only beginning.

That’s precisely what makes his ceiling so fascinating.

From my perspective, Mason has every ingredient necessary to become one of the defining fighters of his generation. He has the athletic ability, the fan-friendly style, the championship mentality, and the personality to become one of the sport’s future faces.

This title defense represents another important step in that journey.

Whether it becomes a routine victory or a career-defining challenge may depend entirely on the man standing across the ring.

Bell’s Long Road

While Mason represents boxing’s future, Albert Bell represents one of boxing’s oldest problems.

Sometimes the most dangerous fighter isn’t the most famous one.

Sometimes he’s the fighter who spent years winning without receiving the opportunities his record deserved.

Bell has lived in that space for much of his professional career.

Tall. Long. Technically disciplined. Undefeated. Difficult to look good against.

Those aren’t always qualities that attract championship opportunities. More often, they’re qualities that make other fighters—and the people guiding their careers—look in another direction.

That’s the harsh reality of boxing.

The sport doesn’t always reward the most deserving contender. It often rewards the most marketable matchup.

Bell has spent years proving he belongs in meaningful conversations while waiting for the kind of opportunity many believed should have arrived much sooner.

His move from junior lightweight to lightweight wasn’t simply a change in weight classes.

It was a reset.

A fresh opportunity to pursue the championship fights that had repeatedly slipped away and to remind the boxing world that his name still belongs among the division’s best.

I’ve followed Albert Bell’s career for years.

I’ve watched him develop from a talented prospect into a polished professional. I’ve watched him consistently win while receiving only a fraction of the attention given to fighters with far less accomplished résumés. And I’ve watched him become one of the sport’s most overlooked contenders—not because of a lack of ability, but because of the difficult style he brings into every fight.

Before going any further, I want to acknowledge Ohio Runs Boxing for its unwavering support of Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell from their amateur days through their rise in the professional ranks.

Illustration of Ohio Runs Boxing wearing a traditional conical hat pulled low over his face while standing inside a dramatic boxing gym with Ohio-themed elements, symbolizing Ohio's rich boxing culture and grassroots fight community.

Ohio Runs Boxing has become one of the state’s most recognizable independent voices, documenting Ohio’s rich boxing tradition while supporting fighters, gyms, and events across the Buckeye State.
Alternative Caption
Known throughout the Midwest boxing community, Ohio Runs Boxing continues to shine a spotlight on Ohio’s fighters, gyms, and grassroots boxing culture.

Its commitment to championing Ohio boxers—past, present, and future—has become one of the state’s most recognizable contributions to the sport. Saturday night’s all-Ohio world championship fight is one of the proudest milestones in that journey.

It’s also a historic moment for my brother Marcus and everyone who has helped build Ohio Runs Boxing into a platform that celebrates the fighters, the gyms, and the culture of boxing throughout our state, and that legacy continues tonight.

Ohio Runs Boxing, indeed.

That kind of commitment matters.

Real support begins long before championship belts, television cameras, and headline events.

It’s built through years of believing in fighters before the rest of the boxing world notices them.

That’s why I don’t see Albert Bell as a late replacement.

I see him as a legitimate championship challenger whose opportunity has finally arrived.

Styles Make Fights

Records introduce a fight.

Styles usually decide it.

That’s what makes this matchup so compelling.

Mason enters as the naturally aggressive boxer-puncher.

His southpaw stance, explosive combinations, quick hands, and offensive instincts allow him to dictate exchanges when he’s fighting on his terms. He excels at creating angles, applying intelligent pressure, and overwhelming opponents before they can settle into a rhythm.

When Mason establishes that tempo early, he’s exceptionally difficult to discourage.

Bell presents a completely different challenge.

His length, patience, timing, and defensive discipline have frustrated opponents throughout his career. He doesn’t need to dominate every exchange to control a fight. Instead, he forces opponents to overreach, become impatient, and make mistakes they wouldn’t normally make.

That style can be incredibly frustrating for aggressive fighters.

Bell’s objective isn’t to match Mason’s activity.

It’s to disrupt it.

He’ll look to establish his jab, manage distance, and force the younger champion to think before committing offensively. If he succeeds, Mason may find himself fighting at a pace that’s unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

Those tactical questions make this far more than a battle between two undefeated records.

Can Mason consistently close the distance without exposing himself to counters?

Can Bell maintain the spacing necessary to neutralize Mason’s explosiveness?

Can youth, speed, and offensive creativity overcome experience, patience, and ring discipline?

Those questions—not promotional narratives or betting odds—will determine who leaves Cleveland with the WBO lightweight championship.

The JuniorTheTruth™ Verdict

I’ve heard plenty of people describe this as another successful title defense waiting to happen.

I don’t see it that way.

This isn’t a showcase.

It isn’t a stay-busy fight.

And it certainly isn’t the type of assignment a young champion should overlook.

To me, this is a genuine 50-50 fight.

That’s not because I doubt Abdullah Mason’s talent.

Quite the opposite.

I believe Mason is one of the most gifted young fighters in boxing today. He has championship ability, tremendous upside, and every opportunity to become one of the defining stars of the next generation.

None of that changes how I view Albert Bell.

For too many observers, Bell has become the fighter whose accomplishments are acknowledged but rarely appreciated. That’s a dangerous mistake.

Length matters.

Experience matters.

Patience matters.

Ring IQ matters.

Those qualities don’t always produce highlight-reel knockouts, but they’ve decided countless championship fights throughout boxing history.

Bell isn’t stepping into this ring hoping to survive twelve rounds.

He’s stepping into it expecting to win.

That confidence isn’t manufactured.

It’s built upon years of preparation, years of waiting, and years of believing this opportunity would eventually arrive.

Mason deserves to be favored.

He’s the champion.

He’s younger.

He’s explosive.

He’s already demonstrated the qualities that suggest he’ll remain at the top of the sport for years to come.

But favorites lose championship fights every year.

Not because they lack talent.

Because styles create problems.

Albert Bell has the style, the experience, and the confidence to present Mason with questions he hasn’t consistently faced at the championship level.

That’s why I reject the idea that this is an easy title defense.

It isn’t.

It’s the kind of fight that reveals exactly how good a champion truly is.

More Than a Championship

The WBO lightweight championship is on the line.

But this fight represents far more than a title belt.

It represents competition.

It represents confidence.

It represents conviction.

Most importantly, it represents two undefeated fighters willing to accept a challenge that many others in today’s boxing landscape might have declined.

For years, fans have voiced the same frustration.

Too many meaningful fights never happen.

Business gets in the way.

Risk outweighs reward.

Careers become carefully managed rather than courageously tested.

Whether by circumstance or intention, Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell have given boxing something refreshingly different.

Uncertainty.

There are no guarantees when the opening bell rings.

No manufactured narratives.

No carefully selected opponent designed to preserve an undefeated record.

Only two highly skilled Ohio fighters are standing across the ring from one another, with everything they’ve worked for hanging in the balance.

That’s what championship boxing is supposed to look like.

Whether you’re cheering for Mason, believing Bell is ready for his moment, or simply hoping to witness a great fight, this matchup deserves far more attention than it has received.

Because, regardless of the outcome, both men are honoring one of boxing’s oldest traditions:

If you want to prove you’re one of the best, eventually you have to fight someone capable of proving you wrong.

Final Bell

Abdullah Mason may very well become one of the defining fighters of his generation.

Albert Bell may finally receive the opportunity many believe should have arrived years ago.

Those two ideas can coexist.

In fact, they’re exactly what makes this fight so compelling.

One man is defending everything he’s earned.

The other is fighting for everything he’s waited to receive.

That’s a dangerous combination.

Championship boxing has always been at its best when certainty gives way to possibility—when reputation collides with hunger, when momentum meets patience, and when talent is forced to answer difficult questions under the brightest lights.

That’s why I refuse to dismiss Albert Bell as simply the next name on Abdullah Mason’s résumé.

And it’s why I refuse to overlook what Mason has already become.

This isn’t a showcase.

It’s an examination.

For Mason, it’s an opportunity to prove that his championship reign is only beginning.

For Bell, it’s the opportunity to show the boxing world that years of being overlooked never diminished his ability—only the attention he received.

When the final bell rings inside the Wolstein Center, one man will leave Cleveland with the WBO lightweight championship.

But regardless of whose hand is raised, both fighters will have reminded the boxing world of something it desperately needs to remember.

Great champions aren’t measured by how carefully they’re protected.

They’re measured by the challenges they’re willing to accept.

On Independence Day, two undefeated Ohio fighters chose challenge over comfort.

In today’s boxing landscape, that’s more than a championship fight.

That’s the new standard.

-JuniorTheTruth™, 2026

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Boxing

IBF gives Moses Itauma a shot at the world title – fighting Hrgovic no longer makes sense

Published

3 days ago

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July 2, 2026

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Moses Itauma was given a direct path to the IBF heavyweight title, leaving Queensberry with one obvious question: Why risk it all against Filip Hrgovic?

In a statement sent to World Boxing News, the International Boxing Federation confirmed that it had received official notice on June 26 of Oleksandr Usyk’s resignation as IBF heavyweight champion.

Under championship rules, the governing body ordered top-ranked Frank Sanchez to negotiate with number three contender Moses Itauma for the vacant title. Both have until July 29 to reach an agreement.

Immediately, Hrgovic became an unnecessary obstacle to Itauma’s path to the world title.

When Itauma agreed to face Hrgovic on August 29 at The O2 in London, it was the perfect step for one of boxing’s brightest adolescent heavyweights.

This equation has completely changed.

IBF pays tribute to Usyk

In a statement provided to WBN, the IBF also confirmed Usyk’s reign before confirming the order.

“Over the course of his distinguished career, Usyk has established himself as one of the sport’s elite competitors, and the IBF is honored to recognize him as one of its world champions.

“His talent and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact on boxing and will continue to inspire future generations of fighters.

“The IBF wishes Oleksandr Usyk continued success in his future endeavors.”

Only after paying tribute to the former champion did the IBF officially order Sanchez and Itauma to negotiate for the vacant world title.

This is an opportunity that many contenders have been chasing for years. Itauma immediately received this opportunity.

Hrgović’s fight no longer makes sense

When Queensberry announced the fight with Hrgovic, promoter Frank Warren described it as a “litmus test” that Itauma was ready for, while DAZN described it as a key fight with world title implications.

These consequences have now become a reality.

No one doubts Itauma’s willingness to fight anyone. He signed a contract with Hrgovic before the world title unexpectedly landed on the table. This is a completely different situation.

Hrgovic remains one of the most perilous heavyweight contenders despite suffering only one loss to Daniel Dubois. Since then, the Croatian has regained momentum with victories over Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Dave Allen, which put him back among the top contenders in the division.

If an agreement can be reached, the obvious solution would be to replace Hrgović with Sanchez on August 29 in exchange for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.

As compensation, Hrgovic could get the first shot at the recent champion if Itauma defeats Sanchez.

Whether this proves possible depends on whether all involved are willing to restructure the contracts already in place.

The heavyweight story still beckons

The change would also support Itauma in its historic mission, which has already missed one goal.

Itauma’s dream of breaking Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion is gone, but another goal remains within reach.

If the 21-year-old wins the vacant IBF title before October, he will overtake Floyd Patterson to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history.

If he waits until the match against Hrgovic, this chance will be gone forever.

Queensberry matched Itauma with Hrgovic because it seemed like the quickest path to a chance at the championship.

The IBF has now given them an even faster fight.

Unless Hrgovic’s contract can no longer be salvaged, Queensberry should exhaust all options to hire Sanchez instead.

The IBF unexpectedly gave Itauma a world title shot and a chance to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history.

It would be arduous to justify giving up this opportunity in favor of unnecessary risk.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Lennox Lewis ‘admitted’ he should have had one more defeat to former heavyweight champion on his record: ‘You won’

Published

3 days ago

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July 2, 2026

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Lennox Lewis ‘admitted’ he should’ve had one more loss on his record to former heavyweight champion: “You won”

The former world champion claims Lennox Lewis once admitted he should have retired after three defeats in his professional career.

“The Lion” is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. He retired in 2003 after avenging his only two losses to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman.

Lewis also had a successful rematch with Evander Holyfield, who somehow managed to do so defended his world titles after a controversial draw in their first meeting.

However, later that year in 1999, Lewis managed to become the undisputed heavyweight champion after winning by unanimous decision, maintaining his lineal status until his retirement following a sixth-round victory over Vitali Klitschko.

However, already in 1996, many believed that the Briton should have suffered another defeat, this time to Ray Mercer, who had briefly held the WBO title in 1991.

The American eventually vacated the belt and was defeated by Larry Holmes the following year before losing a 10-round unanimous decision to Holyfield in 1995.

“Merciless” then faced Lewis in a battle between two Olympic gold medalists, this time suffering a highly controversial defeat by a 10-round majority.

I’m talking to James SlaterMercer insisted that even Lewis doubted he deserved to win their competition.

“Yeah, I won that fight, man. He admitted it to me. He knows, a fighter knows. I won that fight. He told me, ‘I know you’re going to win.’ I told him, ‘Where’s my half of your check!’

“He said OK. Every time I see him, I tell him I’m still waiting! They were preparing him for the fight [Mike] Tyson. That’s what happened and that’s why they gave him the win.

As it happened, Lewis didn’t face Mike Tyson until 2002, when he secured victory after the eighth round.

Instead, after the controversy with Mercer, there was a rematch with McCall, whom he stopped for the WBC title.

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