27 years ago

Date: 12th July 1997

Title: WBC World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Main Events

Referee: Mills Lane

Tv: HBO Sports

Lennox Lewis
( 30 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 242 lbs

Henry Akinwande
( 32 - 0 - 1 )
Weight: 237 1/2 lbs

On July 12, 1997, Lennox Lewis faced Henry Akinwande at Caesars Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada, for the WBC World Heavyweight Title. With a record of 30-1, Lewis weighed in at 242 pounds, while the undefeated Akinwande, standing at 32-0-1, came in at 237½ pounds. The fight was expected to be a competitive clash between two towering heavyweights, but it became a contest mired in controversy and frustration.

Akinwande entered the fight as a technically skilled but cautious fighter. The British-born challenger had spent most of his career boxing in the United States, building an unbeaten record against modest opposition. Lewis, now firmly under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward, was coming off a dominant win over Oliver McCall in their rematch earlier that year, reclaiming the WBC title in unusual circumstances.

From the opening bell, it became apparent that Akinwande’s strategy was to negate Lewis’s offence by clinching at every opportunity. Rather than using his considerable reach and jab, Akinwande resorted to excessive holding, disrupting the flow of the bout. Referee Mills Lane issued repeated warnings, urging Akinwande to engage, but his tactics remained unchanged. This led to a disjointed and uneventful contest, with neither fighter able to establish a rhythm.

Lewis, frustrated but disciplined, landed clean punches when the rare opportunity arose. Akinwande, however, continued to nullify the action, refusing to fight at range or allow Lewis to unleash his power shots. By the third round, Lane’s warnings had escalated to stern admonishments, yet Akinwande persisted in his approach.

The breaking point came in the fifth round. After another prolonged clinch, Lane halted the action and disqualified Akinwande for persistent fouling. The official time of the disqualification was 2:36 of the fifth round, marking one of the few times in heavyweight championship history that a fight ended in such a manner.

The outcome disappointed the crowd at Caesars Tahoe and the HBO viewing audience. Akinwande’s performance drew widespread criticism, with many questioning his mental preparedness for a fight of such magnitude. Promoter Dino Duva later remarked that Akinwande appeared overwhelmed by the occasion, a sentiment echoed by commentators and observers.

For Lewis, the bout was an unsatisfying defence of his title, though it underscored his professionalism in navigating a frustrating and unconventional opponent. The victory improved Lewis’s record to 31-1 and further solidified his status as one of the era’s top heavyweights. Judges Duane Ford, Jerry Roth, and Chuck Giampa had been scoring the fight, but their scorecards became irrelevant following the disqualification.

The fight’s aftermath focused less on Lewis’s win and more on Akinwande’s tactics. The bout is often cited as an example of how defensive strategies can undermine the integrity of a championship contest. Despite the anti-climactic nature of the event, Lewis moved forward in his campaign to unify the heavyweight division. At the same time, Akinwande faded from the championship scene, and the performance significantly damaged his reputation.