Lennox lewis gay
Lennox Lewis and heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman had their rematch almost three months early.
The two engaged in a war of words and then a pushing match at the ESPN Zone in Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday while taping "Up Close" with Gary Miller. The segment was scheduled to air next week in advance of a Nov. 17 fight that will air on TVKO, HBO's pay-per-view affiliate.
About 16 minutes into the taping -- while the two fighters were sitting side-by-side -- Lewis told Miller that Rahman crossed the line when he questioned Lewis' sexuality on an earlier radio show.
Rahman explained he was referring to Lewis' action of suing Rahman for breach of contract.
"Why are you starting with that gay stuff?" Lewis asked Rahman. "I'm 100 percent a woman's man. If he has worries about that bring your sister, bring anyone."
Rahman had wanted to fight another boxer before granting Lewis a rematch of their April 22 fight. Rahman knocked out Lewis in the fifth round of that fight. Lewis was concerned Rahman would surrender his next fight, which would ruin the rematch. In June, a federal judge ruled Rahman had to fight Lewis as his first title defense.
After Lewis referenced Rahman's s
Boxing: Lewis explodes after gay slur
Britain's Lennox Lewis and heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman managed to contain a very entertaining boxing match with none of the usual trappings of a big combat.
There was no vast stadium, no hyped-up crowd and best of all, no macho signature tune such as Eye Of The Tiger to herald their arrival in the ring. The two fought for real in a television studio in Anaheim, California, after Lewis questioned "Rock" Rahman over a "gay slur".
Minutes into the TV show, which is part of a pre-fight publicity tour, the two were sitting side-by-side when Lewis said Rahman crossed the line when he questioned his sexuality on an earlier radio show.
"Why are you starting with that gay stuff?" Lewis asked. Rahman claimed the "gay" comment was a reference to the legal battle fought between the two camps after Lewis' shock defeat in April by the American.
"I said what you did was gay," Rahman said. "I said it was queer to take it to the court."
Lewis replied: "I'm 100 per cent a woman's bloke. If he has worries about that bring your sister, bring anyone." After Lewis mentioned Rahman's sister, the WBC-IBF champion said: "Do not say nothing about my family.
Come out fighting, Lennox
In the run up to his planet title fight with Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas tomorrow, Lennox Lewis has been dogged by insinuations about his sexuality.
Rahman, who snatched Lewis's world heavyweight crown earlier this year, accused Lewis of a "gay move" over his legal action to force a rematch between the two fighters. When challenged, Rahman insisted that he "never intended to question his [Lewis's] sexuality".
Oh really? Perhaps Rahman could enlighten us on why it is "gay" for Lewis to go to court to find him to honour his contract?
Since the term "gay move" does not figure in any Regulation Society text publication, it is not unreasonable to suppose that Rahman used it with some other, probably dishonourable, intention.
Lewis has not helped things by rising to Rahman's bait, demanding that he "stop using that gay tag. If you assume I am homosexual, bring your sister". This sexist jibe in response to a homophobic one was ill-advised. It damages Lewis's otherwise well-deserved "Mr Gentle Guy" image.
The over-the-top denials by Lewis beg the question: why is he making such a fuss? Surely it fuels the
Lennox Lewis: "120% a man's man"
Lewis has been ridiculed in the past because of his close partnership with his mother Violet, but says: "She watches me drill and sees everything is going OK. I'm absolutely proud to be a mother's boy."
He has also put behind him questions about whether he is gay, which were manufactured in the media despite him dating an American model, Aisha.
"At first it upset me because it was disrespect. How can they call me gay? I'm 120% a man's man.
"But people tell, 'I don't see him out with lots of women, he's nice to his mother, and looks too good, so he must be gay', know what I mean?
"I aspire I don't talk feminine or anything like that, but I've realised if you're famous they always say you're gay, so let them. I'm no longer bothered."
Lewis also refutes suggestions by many people that boxing is degrading.
"For any young mother bringing up a rough child on her own it's a great thing, because it teaches them how to control themselves, how to behave," he said.