View source for Evander Holyfield vs. Lennox Lewis II

{{short description|Boxing competition}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name   = Unfinished Business
| image        = [[File:Holyfield vs Lewis 2.jpg|250px]]
| caption      =
| fight date   = November 13, 1999
| location     = [[Thomas & Mack Center]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], US
| titles       = [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]], and vacant [[International Boxing Organization|IBO]] [[Undisputed championship (boxing)|undisputed]]
heavyweight championship
| fighter1     = Evander Holyfield
| nickname1    = The Real Deal
| hometown1    = [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]], US
| purse1       = $15,000,000
| record1      = 36–3–1 (25 KO)
| age1         = {{age in years and months |19 October 1962 |13 November 1999}}
| height1      = 6 ft 2+1/2 in
| weight1      = 217 lb
| style1       = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| recognition1 = [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] and [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]<br>Heavyweight Champion<br>[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] [[Pound for pound|pound-for-pound]] No. 3 ranked fighter<br>2-division [[Undisputed championship (boxing)|undisputed]] world champion
| fighter2     = Lennox Lewis
| nickname2    = The Lion
| hometown2    = [[West Ham]], [[London]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| purse2       = $15,000,000
| record2      = 34–1–1 (27 KO)
| age2         = {{age in years and months |2 September 1965 |13 November 1999}}
| height2      = 6 ft 5 in
| weight2      = 242 lb
| style2       = Orthodox
| recognition2 = [[World Boxing Council|WBC]]<br>Heavyweight Champion
| result       = '''Lewis''' wins via 12-round '''[[unanimous decision]]''' (115–113, 116–112, 117–111)
}}
'''[[Evander Holyfield]] vs. [[Lennox Lewis]] II''', billed as '''''Unfinished Business''''', was a professional boxing match contested on November 13, 1999 for the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]], and vacant [[International Boxing Organization|IBO]] [[Undisputed championship (boxing)|undisputed]] heavyweight championship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield (2nd meeting) |url=https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Lennox_Lewis_vs._Evander_Holyfield_%282nd_meeting%29 |website=boxrec.com/ |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>
==Background==
The two fighters had met eight months prior in [[Madison Square Garden]]. Though Lewis had seemingly done enough to win, the bout was declared a draw, with one judge ruling the fight in favor of Lewis 116–113, another scoring the fight in Holyfield's favor with a score of 115–113 and the third declaring the fight even at 115–115.<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/03/14/lewis-lands-the-punches-but-holyfield-gets-the-draw/ Lewis Lands The Punches, But Holyfield Gets The Draw], Chicago Tribune article, 1999-03-14, Retrieved on 2013-08-10</ref> The ruling became one of the most controversial in boxing history, and as such, the three sanctioning bodies quickly ordered a rematch between the two.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/15/sports/boxing-a-rematch-for-holyfield-and-lewis-is-ordered.html A Rematch For Holyfield and Lewis Is Ordered], N.Y. Times article, 1999-03-15, Retrieved on 2013-08-10</ref>
A week after this first fight, Holyfield and Lewis agreed to the rematch, with the fight's US$30 million purse being evenly split between them.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/22/sports/boxing-september-rematch-of-holyfield-and-lewis.html September Rematch for Holyfield and Lewis], N.Y. Times article, 1999-03-22, Retrieved on 2013-08-10</ref> The match was originally scheduled for September, but was pushed back to November 13, with Las Vegas' [[Thomas & Mack Center]] being announced as the site of the fight.<ref>[http://a.espncdn.com/boxing/news/1999/0828/8612.html Holyfield-Lewis rematch set for November 13], ESPN article, 1999-08-28, Retrieved on 2013-08-10</ref> The fight was to occur exactly seven years after [[Riddick Bowe]] defeated Holyfield to become the last undisputed heavyweight champion. The men were to fight for the three major belts and the lesser-regarded IBO heavyweight title, which was awarded to Lewis prior to the fight.
==The fight==
Like in the previous fight, Lewis gained an early advantage, winning both rounds 1 and 2. Lewis won round 3 on two of the judges' scorecards, but a late rally from Holyfield during the final 30 seconds in which he landed several punches, including a hard right to the side of Lewis' head, helped him win on the third judge's scorecard. Holyfield then won the next four rounds. In an entertaining round 7, the two fighters fought in the middle of ring during the final 20 seconds, each landing several punches. Lewis seized control of the fight by winning rounds 8 to 11. The men fought a close round 12, but Lewis again took the round on two of the judges' scorecards. Lewis was then named the winner by unanimous decision with scores of 115–113, 116–112 and 117–111, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly seven years.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130811102649/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1017738/index.htm Triumph of Timidity], Sports Illustrated article, 1999-11-22, Retrieved on 2013-08-10</ref> HBO's [[Harold Lederman]] had the bout scored 116-112 for Lewis and the [[Associated Press|AP]] had it 116-113.
==Aftermath==
Lewis' reign as undisputed heavyweight champion lasted less than six months. The WBA wanted Lewis to defend the championship against their number one contender [[John Ruiz]]. However, Lewis wanted to first defend his titles against [[Michael Grant (boxer)|Michael Grant]]. The WBA and Lewis agreed that he would fight Grant first followed by Ruiz. Ruiz's promoter Don King challenged the decision in court and a clause was found in Lewis' contract that stated the winner of the Holyfield–Lewis fight would first defend his titles against the WBA's number one contender. Because of this, Lewis was stripped of his WBA title.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-13-sp-19075-story.html Hard-Hitting Federal Judge Strips Lewis of WBA Title], L.A. Times article, 2000-04–13, Retrieved on 2013-08-10</ref> He proceeded with his match against Grant, successfully defending his remaining titles after defeating Grant by 2nd round knockout. The WBA then created a "Super World Champion" title allowing unified champions more time in between mandatory title defenses.
The WBA chose Holyfield to face Ruiz for the vacant WBA Heavyweight title. Holyfield defeated Ruiz by unanimous decision to regain the title, becoming the first four-time heavyweight champion in boxing history. He lost the title to Ruiz in his next fight and then fought Ruiz a third time, this time to a draw. He met [[Hasim Rahman]] to determine who would face Lewis for the heavyweight championship. Though Holyfield won, Lewis opted to face [[Mike Tyson]] and Lewis–Holyfield III never materialized.
This would be the last fight for the [[List of undisputed world boxing champions#Heavyweight|undisputed heavyweight championship]] until [[Oleksandr Usyk]] defeated [[Tyson Fury]] on [[Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk|May 18, 2024]].
==Undercard==
Confirmed bouts:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/event/8870|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}</ref>
==Broadcasting==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster
|-
| {{flag|Canada}} || [[The Sports Network|TSN]]
|-
| {{flag|France}} || [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]]
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}} || [[Vintage Television|VTV]] ([[Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation|IBC]])
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || [[Sky Sports]]
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || [[HBO]]
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | rows=2 | before=[[Evander Holyfield vs. Lennox Lewis|First Fight]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Evander Holyfield]]' bouts | years=13 November 1999}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Evander Holyfield vs. John Ruiz|vs. John Ruiz]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Lennox Lewis]]'s bouts |years=13 November 1999}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Lennox Lewis vs. Michael Grant|vs. Michael Grant]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Evander Holyfield}}
{{Lennox Lewis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holyfield, Lewis II}}
[[Category:1999 in boxing]]
[[Category:1999 in sports in Nevada]]
[[Category:November 1999 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:Boxing matches at Thomas & Mack Center]]
[[Category:Boxing matches involving Evander Holyfield|Lewis II]]
[[Category:Boxing matches involving Lennox Lewis|Holyfield II]]
[[Category:Boxing matches refereed by Mitch Halpern]]
[[Category:World Boxing Association heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:International Boxing Federation heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:International Boxing Organization heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:Boxing on HBO]]
[[Category:Boxing on Sky Sports]]
[[Category:Pay-per-view boxing matches]]