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
Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield II Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield II Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield II, billed as "Repeat or Revenge", was a professional boxing match that took place on November 6, 1993 for the WBA, IBF and "Lineal" Heavyweight championships. The two fighters had previously met a little less than a year before on November 13, 1992. In what would become one of the greatest heavyweight fights of all time, Bowe would defeat Holyfield by unanimous decision to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Bowe's reign as Undisputed Champion would not last long, as his victory over Holyfield now meant he would have to