Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images
It was the last full weekend in the United States before Americans would assemble at the polls. Tuesday, November 3 was Election Day. Incumbent George H.W. Bush was facing serious challenges from both Bill Clinton and Ross Perot.
It’s part of the fabric of our country. Freedom, the right to vote, a peaceful change of power from one administration to the next, where we the people decide what our future holds.
Tuesday would represent the culmination of months on the road, countless rallies, interviews, speeches, and millions of handshakes and pictures taken.
The year was 1992.
While Americans prepared to exercise their voting liberties, boxing fans were preparing for an epic showdown between two big Heavyweights who would clash across the Atlantic.
Fall was settling in and many could already smell the unmistakable scent of fire hitting the logs as temperatures began to dip. On October 31, Halloween night, trick-or-treaters were out collecting candy while Donovan “Razor” Ruddock and Lennox Lewis were loosening up in their dressing rooms.
The fight would be hosted at Earls Court in London, England. Ruddock, the No.1 WBC contender, would face the No. 2 ranked WBC contender, Lewis, on Lewis’ home turf.
The bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, was billed as “The Fight for the Right” and was a Heavyweight elimination bout.
The victor, as Jim Lampley pointed out in pre-fight festivities, was “guaranteed by contract” to face the winner of the Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe title fight scheduled for just two weeks after, on November 13.
This was an exciting time in the Heavyweight division. Holyfield, the undefeated and undisputed champion, was preparing to face what many saw as the stiffest test of his career in the young, brash and undefeated Bowe.
The winner of that bout would have a bonafide challenger waiting on their doorstep.
The Jamaican born Ruddock (27-3-1, 20 KOs) was installed as a 2-1 favorite over Lewis. Betters saw the unmistakable mystique that he carried with him after his two wars with “Iron” Mike Tyson.
In a pair of losing efforts, he had gone 19 rounds with Tyson, having been knocked down four times and winning only three of the 19 rounds.
Still, he hurt Tyson on more than one occasion and many experts saw him as the best active Heavyweight in the division. In addition to the battles with Tyson, Ruddock had previously stopped James “Bonecrusher” Smith and knocked out a highly regarded Michael Dokes in devastating fashion.
Ruddock, at 6’3” and 231 pounds, belted Dokes with his powerful left hook, almost an uppercut, which he and his camp nicknamed “The Smash.” That punch left Dokes unconscious for nearly 15 minutes. Veteran matchmaker Mel Greb later commented, “I thought Dokes was dead the way he fell.”
Some, like HBO’s Larry Merchant, recognized Ruddock’s potential, yet had questions. “I think you have to suspect somebody whose credibility is based on losing twice to Mike Tyson.”
In hopes of improving and taking his career to the next level after the losses to Tyson, the Ruddock camp hired a new trainer. In stepped former two-time Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. After two victories, tonight would be their third fight together and their toughest test to date.
Born in London, Lewis was a 1988 Olympic gold medalist. Standing 6’5” and 227 pounds, he too was an imposing force in the ring. Only three opponents had made it to the final bell.
Like Ruddock, Lewis had his sights on taking his career to the next level. Prior to the bout with Ruddock, Lewis also hired a new trainer, Pepe Correa, to be the chief second in his corner. Largely unknown and unheralded in the United States, Lewis, the Commonwealth Heavyweight champion, was looking to put himself on the map against Ruddock.
Although he had some recognizable names chalked up in the win column, most notably Tyrell Biggs and Mike Weaver, both were well past their primes and many pundits questioned whether Lewis could withstand the tested power puncher Ruddock.
George Foreman, however, loved what he saw in Lewis. “Lewis can easily win a decision. He’s got the bigger and longer left jab, he’s got the enthusiasm. He can win this thing.”
Lewis (21-0, 18 KOs) entered the arena first. Draped in all red and led by the Union Jack flag that waved high above his head, a raucous crowd cheered passionately as he confidently strolled towards the ring.
The atmosphere crackled and felt as if Ivan Drago were walking towards the ring. Lewis, 27, had an entire country in his corner.
Clearly a packed house, the sea of humanity seemed endless as he climbed into the ring.
Ruddock, 28, soon began his walk. Boos rained down as Ruddock entered the arena and came into view of the fans. Garbed in all white, his robe and trunks were trimmed in red and yellow.
Upon climbing into the ring, he slowly circled until he caught Lewis from the corner of his eye. Ruddock marched directly in front of him and the two stood nose to nose. While handlers quickly stepped in to pull them apart, Ruddock threw his hands in the air while releasing a loud, “Whooaah!”
Lewis seemed unfazed as Ruddock continued to jaw and extended his right arm, pointing his fist directly at him. Ruddock was clearly trying to send the message that he was the man.
This was not the first time these men had been in the ring together. They had faced each other in the amateurs and later sparred, in Lewis’ words, “Countless rounds together.”
After ring announcer Mike Goodall introduced the fighters, referee Joe Cortez provided final instructions. The fight was televised live on HBO with Lampley, Merchant and “Big” George ringside to call the action.
The arena went completely dark with the only remaining light shining directly on the ring itself. The bell then sounded to begin Round 1.
The battle lines were immediately drawn. Lewis, more of a boxer, looked to establish his long left jab while he circled and moved slowly backward. Ruddock, an overwhelming power puncher, came forward looking for the opportunity to turn his “smash” loose.
Both big men, even by Heavyweight standards, looked to impose their will early.
After rushing Lewis and driving him into the ropes, the two moved the action to the center of the ring. Each fighter worked behind their left jab, eyeing the opportunity to set up their best power shots. Lewis calmly looked to unleash his right hand while Ruddock was looking to bomb with his left.
Lewis continued to move backward, often jabbing to the body while Ruddock continued to press forward. With 10 seconds remaining in the first, Ruddock charged forward in hopes of putting an exclamation point on the opening three minutes.
Lewis countered brilliantly with an overhand right that caught Ruddock flush and dropped him to the canvas. An incredible thud echoed as the punch landed.
Lampley screamed, “Right hand by Lewis! Ruddock goes down! A smashing right cross with perfect accuracy!”
A shaken Ruddock rose and the bell sounded to end the round. Both fighters went to their corners as Merchant concluded of the Lewis right hand missile, “He’s cool, he’s calm, and he nearly collected Razor Ruddock with one punch.”
The crowd, now in a colossal uproar, was on its feet as the second round began.
Ruddock was not unaccustomed to being down. He had tasted the canvas before, coming back to knock out Smith, and had risen from the four knockdowns against Tyson and fought valiantly.
Unfortunately for Razor, that would not be the case on this night.
Seconds into Round 2, Lewis again hurt Ruddock with a left hook followed by a sweeping right hand. The Lewis right hand actually lifted the soles of Ruddock’s feet off the canvas as he fluttered into a nearby corner.
Sensing the end may be near, Lewis opened up the arsenal as Lampley yelled over the deafening crowd, “Lewis hurting Ruddock with the left hook! Ruddock in serious trouble as Lewis pounds him to the canvas! Second knockdown of the fight! Lennox Lewis is in total command now!”
Again Ruddock rose to his feet and collected the standing eight count from Cortez. There was little doubt that he was in serious trouble.
A buzzed Ruddock bravely stood toe to toe with Lewis, courageously firing back in hopes of landing something that would back Lewis off him.
Lewis landed a volley of punches that again wounded Ruddock. Lampley tried desperately to keep up with the action, “Right hand to the body! Ruddock in trouble! Second knockdown of Round 2! Joe Cortez stops the fight!”
An animated Merchant strained to be heard, “That’s all! It’s over! We have a great new Heavyweight on the boxing scene!”
Foreman intensely echoed Merchant, “I agree! I agree!”
While Ruddock lay face down and motionless, Cortez knelt by his side and waived a halt to the bout just 46 seconds into the second round.
Not only had Lewis put himself on the map, he had made an indelible impression in stopping Ruddock and cemented his standing in the division.
Back in the United States, Americans elected Clinton as the 42nd President of the United States.
10 days later, Bowe earned an impressive unanimous decision over Holyfield.
Instead of facing Lewis, Bowe severed the undisputed crown when he elected to drop the WBC belt into a garbage can.
On December 14, the WBC then declared Lewis, who was unquestionably the No. 1 contender, the new WBC Heavyweight champion.
Lewis and Bowe, who had met in their amateur days, would never face each other as professionals.
