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Lennox Lewis vs Mike Simuwelu 14.4.1990

2,452 views · Published 5 January 2016 · 0:45 · Indexed 24 September 2026

Channel: Classic Boxing Matches · 2016 · Sports

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A young Lennox Lewis takes on the much more experienced Zambian Heavyweight Champion, "Big Boy" Mike Simuwelu.  Lennox Lewis would go on to have a stellar career but first he had to get through his toughest opponent (on paper at least) to date.  More info below...

Michael Simuwelu was 18-2-1 heading into his fight with Lennox Lewis and had just won the Zambian Heavyweight title in his last fight.  He was also a former African Boxing Union Heavyweight Champion back in 1987.  Simuwelu had fought successfully in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Germany and the Netherlands but was making his first appearance in the United Kingdom.  Although he had not fought any big names in the world of boxing he had beaten some tough but limited opposition in the likes of Bobby Crabtree, Lorenzo Boyd and Proud Kilimanjaro.  

Lennox Lewis was just starting out on his journey towards becoming World Heavyweight Champion but even at this early stage in his career with an 8-0 record he was making waves as a fighter to watch.  He had fought experienced competition right from the get go although nobody with any serious skill.  Simuwelu was going to provide Lewis with his first real challenge... or at least that was the plan.

The fight was over pretty quickly.  Lewis threw a right hook which missed but his forearm connected with the temple of Simuwelu, stunning him for just a second and having to back away.  Lewis saw his opportunity however and pounced with a left hook while Simuwelu's chin was exposed and put him on the canvas.  Although Simuwelu got to his feet, the ref awarded a 1st round TKO to Lennox Lewis.

Simuwelu would also lose his next fight by first round TKO and took a 2 year break from the ring.  He returned in 1992 but with little success and ended up losing his Zambian Heavyweight Title in 1993 to Behonest Mweshi, a boxer with only 3 fights to his name.  There was not a lot of heavyweight boxers in Zambia at the time and Simuwelu's next fight would not come until 1999!  He retired in 2000 with a 19-7-3 record.

Lennox Lewis would go from strength to strength.  In 1990 he won the EBU (European) Heavyweight title, in 1991 the BBBofC British Heavyweight title, in 1992 the Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavyweight title and finally in 1993 the WBC World Heavyweight title.  In 1999 he beat Evander Holyfield to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion by adding the WBA, IBF and IBO versions on the world title to his waist.  Lennox Lewis retired as World Champion after beating Vitali Klitschko in 2003 with a 41-2-1 record.

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