[4] Forced to go down the comeback trail, Lewis was matched up with the WBC's number two heavyweight Lionel Butler to determine who would be next in line for a title shot.

Lewis, however, would use his distinct height advantage and vastly outboxed his much shorter opponent, winning all of the first four rounds on the judge's scorecards.

Almost immediately after the bell rang to signify the start of the round, Lewis would send Butler to the canvas after landing a right–left combination.

Butler would get up, and following a clinch break by the referee just before the first minute expired, unloaded a huge right hand that Lewis ducked.

[8] Lewis' victory was originally supposed to make him the mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight title, which McCall was to defend against Frank Bruno later in the year on September 2.