One of the bouts that best showcased the talent and class of the legendary Lennox Lewis was his domination over the fearsome Samoan puncher David Tua, who lost by unanimous decision at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on November 11, 2000. On the anniversary of that unified heavyweight title defense, let’s examine the key aspects of the fight.
Lennox Lewis: An Underappreciated Champion
A heavyweight of world caliber can at least expect his own country to rally behind him. Lennox Lewis, however, struggled with this support due to his mixed origins: Jamaican roots, born and raised in London, and then spent his teenage years in Canada. Particularly unsettling to a large part of the British audience was one of his past remarks: “I like the UK, but I love Canada.” The “Lion,” as he was nicknamed, had even represented Canada in two Olympic games, leading many to believe he pursued his professional career in the UK solely for financial reasons. Adding to this was Lewis’s reserved media presence; he kept an exemplary lifestyle outside the ring, with a calm demeanor, far removed from the stereotype of the wild boxer that the public often favors. As a result, many were hoping for a misstep by the reigning champion before his major fight against David Tua.
David Tua: Hard-Headed with a Deadly Hook
Heavyweights with a style like “Tuaman” have always thrilled fans: a compact physique, aggressive stance, and deadly blows were his defining traits, essential for advancing in a category dominated by giants. Standing only 178 centimeters tall, the same height as Mike Tyson, Tua, the oceanic powerhouse, had to close the distance to compete with taller and leaner opponents, relying on another natural asset—his seemingly bomb-proof chin. With his thick neck and pain tolerance, Tua seemed impervious to his opponents’ shots, moving forward relentlessly despite taking hit after hit. While some boxers managed to keep their distance for much of the fight, sooner or later, Tuaman’s left hook would find its way to the target and seal the deal. David Izon, Oleg Maskaev, and Hasim Rahman all fell past the tenth round, with the scorecards still close, proving Tua remained a dangerous threat until the final bell of a twelve-round fight.
A Perfect Fight Recap: Focus, Caution, and Domination
The fight began vibrantly. Lewis dodged Tua’s early attempts to set an aggressive tone and countered with his right hand multiple times, landing hits to the head and body. These fierce body shots would later prove crucial. After a strong opening round, Lewis moved into a cautious phase, spending the next three rounds controlling the pace elegantly, managing Tua’s pressing with minimal attacks, mostly relying on his jab. Tua managed to hit occasionally but could never seize the fight’s momentum due to his low work rate and reliance on isolated power shots.
At the end of the fourth round, the scorecards were even: one judge had Tua ahead by two points, another had Lewis up by two, and the third saw them tied. But from then on, the champion went full throttle and decisively took control. Urged on by his great trainer, Emanuel Steward, Lennox consistently deployed his right hand, making it increasingly difficult for Tua to close the distance. As Lewis’s intensity rose, Tua’s pace noticeably slowed, appearing discouraged and powerless, unable to find an alternative route to his famous left hook, which Lewis systematically blocked or dodged.
Shouting at a boxer that a KO is the only way to win is typically reserved for the final round; Tua’s corner, however, resorted to this desperate tactic with four rounds left, to no effect. A confident Lewis unleashed three- and four-punch combinations, showing off his footwork and dominance while Tua, taking hit after hit, showed no signs of breaking out of his ineffective pressure. The crowd, expecting a fierce battle, occasionally expressed their disappointment, but Tua waited until the final ten seconds of the match to launch a reckless frontal assault, only to crash into the ropes after Lewis evaded his punches.
After the clear and deserved verdict in his favor, the winner appeared confident and bold, even dedicating a rhyme to rival Mike Tyson: “If Tyson wants me to come and take the test, Lennox Lewis will put him to rest, because Lennox Lewis is the best.” The two would eventually face off a year and a half later.
Tua, however, gave a gracious interview, making no excuses for his lackluster performance and recognizing Lewis as the best boxer he had ever faced. Nonetheless, Tua’s trainer and promoter revealed on camera that Tua had dealt with a rib injury during training, and the body shots from Lewis early in the fight had intensified the pain, limiting Tuaman’s upper body movement. It’s impossible to say in retrospect how much this affected the fight’s dynamic; what remains in the annals is the superb performance of His Majesty Lennox Lewis, in all its splendor.