His legacy will be most remembered for inking a deal between former Olympic medalist/heavyweight champion Michael Spinks and legendary knockout artist Mike Tyson in 1988.
Other memorable moments of Lewis’ career include the night former boxing champ Dwight Muhammad Qawi changed his mind at the last second on taking a fight Lewis had set up, costing him “a fortune.” Henry “Discombobulating” Jones, the first known Black boxing ring announcer, told the AFRO he had the luxury of getting to know Butch over the years.
He told me he genuinely forgot about me and said to blame it on his head, not his heart.” Jones said he forgave Lewis because he knows he was “an honest man,” even when it came to business.
“Butch had a one-of-kind personality and a huge heart,” Jones said, “and he will definitely be missed and forever honored for the contributions he made.” Butch was honored in 2004 when South African president Nelson Mandela presented him with the nation's highest humanitarian award for his advocating contributions made throughout the 1970s-'80s.
When President Mandela was released in 1990, Lewis worked closely with him to raise funds for his African National Congress (ANC) party.