On Friday night, May 10, 1996, Madison Square Garden hosted a boxing event featured a card of heavyweight contenders. The main event was the Evander Holyfield vs. Bobby Czyz bout, but Lennox was on the card as well.
Lewis took on the always rugged Ray Mercer. The winner would more than likely get a title shot the following year, and both had everything to lose.
Both men traded big shots throughout the ten round affair, and Mercer was definitely in the fight the entire way. I was nervous as the bout approached the last few rounds, and hoped Lennox would suck it up, and finish strong.
The ex champion did just that, and closed out the tough battle well. When the scorecards were read, it gave Lewis a razor thin unanimous decision, with one judge calling it a draw. I was just glad Lennox had escaped with the win, and would seek redemption, and another run at the championship.
Mercer complained as he always did, but came up short as usual. He had a history of losing his big fights, as he had with Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and now Lennox Lewis. He was never one of my favorites, to say the least, and was glad he had lost again.
A win is a win any way you look at it, and Lennox Lewis continued on his quest for heavyweight redemption.
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