It was like old times.
Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman shot the breeze like long-lost friends in Kiev on Sunday, where both are attending the WBC convention.
Berman and former partner, the late Cedric Kushner, co-promoted Lewis’ ill-fated championship defence against Hasim Rahman in South Africa 17 years ago.
It was a riotous time with both fighters’ camps, assorted media and social types coming together for arguably the best boxing event to have taken place in democratic South Africa.
“It was fantastic to see Lennox, who is a thorough gentleman,” said Berman. “He has kept his shape and is genuinely one of the smartest, nicest guys there is.”
The WBC’s official ratings will be announced in Ukraine later this week and Berman is confident that both Kevin Lerena and Thulani Mbenge will be rewarded. Mbenge has a title defence lined up for December and is also lined up for a US debut in early 2019.
