Lennox Lewis vs. Lionel Butler to gain the title match with Bruno, but the WBC would ultimately rule in favor of Tyson. Confirmed bouts: Lennox Lewis vs. Lionel Butler Lennox Lewis vs. Lionel Butler was a professional boxing match contested on May 13, 1995. The fight was a WBC "eliminator" bout with the winner scheduled to become the number one contender for the WBC heavyweight title. Lennox Lewis' previous fight had been a WBC heavyweight title defense against Oliver McCall. The then-undefeated Lewis entered the fight as an overwhelming favorite over the little-known McCall, however, McCall would stun the champion and the boxing world after
Lennox Lewis vs. Ray Mercer Lennox Lewis vs. Ray Mercer Lennox Lewis vs. Ray Mercer was a professional boxing match contested on May 10, 1996. Following victories over heavyweight contenders Lionel Butler and Tommy Morrison, Lennox Lewis was now regarded as the number one contender for the WBC Heavyweight Title, which was then held by Frank Bruno. However, the WBC chose to bypass Lewis and instead sanctioned a championship bout between Bruno and Mike Tyson, who had returned to boxing the previous year after serving over three years in prison. Lewis brought the matter to court, claiming that he, not Tyson, deserved to face Bruno