even This is my continuing list of the fights I watched on HBO over the years.
41. Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno. October 1, 1993. The ‘Battle of the Brits’ took place on a chilly windy night in Cardiff, Wales. I certainly was rooting for Lennox, but it seemed the crowd was more on Bruno’s side. Frank fought well for three or four rounds, and even buzzed Lewis a few times. However the younger, more talented Lewis hurt Bruno with a left hook in the seventh round, and hammered him on the ropes until the ref called a halt. It seemed no matter what Lennox did, the critics weren’t satisfied. My attitude was that was why they were critics, and he was the WBC heavyweight champion of the world.
42. Tommy Morrison vs. Michael Bentt. October 28, 1993. Another night of heavyweights on HBO saw Tommy ‘The Duke’ Morrison in the ring for a supposed tune-up bout with Michael Bentt. A December date with Lennox Lewis was a done deal, but disaster struck that night at the Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Morrison was dropped three times in the opening round by Bentt, and I sat in disgust at the sight. It was obvious that Tommy had no chin, and would never be an elite level fighter. It was embarrassing to watch, and as I made the drive home from my sister’s house that night, I felt sick in my stomach.
43. Lennox Lewis vs. Phil Jackson. May, 6, 1994. Lennox traveled to Atlantic City’s Convention Hall to take on contender Phil Jackson. Lennox dominated him and put him on the canvas in the first, fifth and eighth round, causing the referee to call a halt to the bout. Lennox had impressed me, and was always in tip top condition for his fights. Talk of a fight with Bowe had disappeared, since Riddick had lost his title to Evander Holyfield in their rematch in November of 1993.
44. Riddick Bowe vs. Buster Mathis Jr. August 13, 1994. Riddick Bowe made his first return to the ring against the short, chubby Mathis, and appeared overweight at 246 lbs. himself. Mathis bobbed and weaved for the first few rounds, but in the fourth as he was on a knee, was coldcocked by a Bowe right hand, knocking him out. After deliberation, the bout was ruled a No Contest, and it did nothing to help Bowe’s reputation. The card at the upper ballroom of Convention Hall in Atlantic City was bizarre to say the least, and left the public wondering what had happened to Riddick’s psyche as a fighter.
45. Lennox Lewis vs. Oliver McCall. September 29, 1994. Disaster struck for Lennox at Wembley Arena in London that night in the way of a lucky right hand by Oliver McCall. I was shocked to see Lewis dropped, and even though he got up, was in no condition to continue. McCall had literally closed his eyes, and landed the lethal punch, and taken Lewis’s championship as a result. I had really grown to like Lennox, and this surprising result, made the drive home that night a long and disgusting one for sure.
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