Lennox Lewis admits he can barely bring himself to watch the video of his drawn bout with Evander Holyfield, a fight the British world heavyweight champion claims was fixed. Despite Lewis having the better of the fight, the result was controversially declared a draw and although he went on to take the undisputed title in November's re-match, the Briton admits that the first fight still plays on his mind.
Asked if he believed the fight was fixed, Lewis said “Absolutely. When I watch the fight it actually upsets me. I say to myself, I don't even know how they can say this fight was a draw. If you asked a million people, you're going to get at least 90% of them saying that I won the fight. I realised this is the way they have to beat me, by doing some skullduggery, by using judges that weren't really up to standard.”
Lewis' reign as undisputed champion was soured after just 146 days when a New York judge stripped the Briton of the WBA title, but he insists he is the man to beat. “I believe I'm the best out there now, I am the man at the top. I have worked to be in this position, it didn't come easy and wasn't given to me.”
Lewis takes on Michael Grant in Madison Square Gardens next Saturday night, and he admits he views his challenger as very dangerous .Grant, 27, is unbeaten in 31 fights and stands at 6ft 7ins.
