Lennox Lewis knocked out in the first round. Lewis retained the WBC world title in 1998 when he knocked out lineal champion Shannon Briggs, who had recently outpointed George Foreman in a controversial fight to win the lineal title in five rounds, and beat formerly-undefeated European champion Željko Mavrović from Croatia in a 12-round unanimous decision. Lewis stated in 2006 that his fight with Mavrovic was the most awkward win of his career. On 13 March 1999, Lewis faced WBA and IBF title holder Evander Holyfield in New York City in what was supposed to be a heavyweight unification bout. Lewis fought
Badou Jack at the Opening Ceremonies. He lost in the first round to India's Vijender Singh. Jack started his professional career in his native Sweden where he won his debut fight by unanimous decision on June 6, 2009. His next four fights were contested in Sweden and Finland, with Jack winning each by KO/TKO, two in the first round. After meeting former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs at a Swedish boxing event, held in honor of the Swedish boxing legend Ingemar Johansson in 2009, where Jack was fighting and Briggs was brought in as a guest, Jack would move to the United States