A former rival of Lennox Lewis says he faced one fighter who was even smarter than the three-time world heavyweight champion.
Lewis had an exceptional professional boxing career which began shortly after he captured a Super-Heavyweight Gold Medal at the Seoul Olympic Games back in 1988.
‘The Lion’ would go on to hold a version of the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions along the way, including a short reign as the undisputed champion after he defeated Evander Holyfield in 1999.
Lewis did suffered two defeats during his career however, with the first coming back in September 1994 when he was stopped in the second round of his showdown with Oliver McCall in a sensational upset.
Lewis did get his revenge over McCall several years later, knocking the American out in the 5th round of their Las Vegas rematch to reclaim the WBC world heavyweight title.
Speaking to The Ring Magazine, McCall overlooked Lewis when revealing the smartest fighter he ever faced, naming none other than former long-reigning world champion Larry Holmes.
“I learned more from Larry Holmes (than any other fighter); he taught me a lot. Hands down. As far as craftiness, definitely Larry Holmes. Him winning that fight with Ray Mercer, that’s what made the fight with me that much harder, because I believe Larry Holmes thought, “I just whooped an Army sergeant.” So he thought he could do the same with me.”
McCall got the better of Holmes when they fought back in April of 1995, defeating the veteran by unanimous decision in the first and only defence of his WBC heavyweight title at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
