22 years ago
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield
Date: 13th March 1999
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
Title: WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles
Promoted by: Don King Productions
Tv: TVKO (HBO)
Lennox Lewis
(
34
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 245 lbs
Evander Holyfield
(
36
-
3
-
0
)
Weight: 215 lbs
Lewis and Holyfield met at Madison Square Garden before a crowd of 21,284 to unify the WBC, WBA, and IBF world heavyweight titles. Holyfield started the fight as a slight betting favourite.
The resulting split decision draw handed down by the three ringside judges would be seen as one of the most controversial in heavyweight boxing history.
Scores: Stanley Christodoulou 116-113 | Larry O'Connell 115-115 | Eugenia Williams 113-115.
After the fight, Lewis said "I felt I won the fight. It was my time to shine, and they ripped me off. I'm the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and the whole world knows it.