Boxing promoter Butch Lewis dies at 65
Butch Lewis, the colorful boxing promoter who worked with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Michael and Leon Spinks, has died. He was 65.
Funeral home owner Sammy Congo of Congo Funeral Home in Wilmington, Del., says he received notification of Lewis' death on Saturday morning and had been expecting to meet family members on Sunday.
Reuters said Lewis reportedly suffered a massive heart attack Saturday morning in his Bethany Beach, Del., home and died about 5 a.m.
Lewis was best known in the ring for sporting tuxedos with no shirt and being involved in some of the sport's biggest fights.
He promoted the Michael Spinks-Mike Tyson fight in 1988 that ended with a first-round knockout of Spinks, who earned more than $13 million for the fight.
Before the Zab Judah-Amir Khan fight in Las Vegas on Saturday, Lewis was honored by ring announcer Michael Buffer and given a 10-bell count.
Lewis began promoting boxing matches in the 1970s and played a key role in one of the biggest and most popular times in the sport's history, putting together bouts that featured the biggest names in the ring at the time including Ali, Frazier and the Spinks brothers.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
