Lennox Lewis Shares Unexpected Conversation with Nelson Mandela

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis opened up about his meeting with South African leader Nelson Mandela and how the encounter motivated him to pursue a rematch that turned out to be a career-defining moment.

"The guys who beat me eventually lost to me later. That was very important. So, Hasim Rahman was a great fight for me. I remember when I lost, he was shouting, 'No more Lewis-Tyson fight!' He practically left South Africa without even visiting Mandela.

I went to see Mandela, and when I walked in to meet him, he told me, 'You need to keep your right hand up.' But he also said, 'Don’t worry, next time you’ll get him.' That was it—I was like, 'Wow.' He lifted my spirits and told me I would win the next fight. And I thought, 'Yes, I will win the next fight.'

After the rematch, I shouted his name, remembering what he had told me. I wanted to show him that I remembered," Lewis shared on The Ring podcast.

Lewis and Rahman fought twice. Rahman won their first encounter by stoppage, but Lewis avenged the loss in their rematch, delivering a knockout victory.