Lewis, Manny meet

They fought on the same card once–at the Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee, in June 2002. But Lennox Lewis and Manny Pacquiao never came face to face and shook hands until their paths crossed in a Manhattan courtroom last June 20.

Lewis, 39, showed up to testify in Pacquiao’s case against New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad. Presiding judge Loretta Preska called the trial to order at 8:30 a.m. in Room 12-A at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan US Courthouse and Lewis quietly walked in about three hours later while the jury of eight was in the process of selection.

Lewis came in casual clothes. His long hair was, as usual, layered in dreadlocks. He wore an untucked, long-sleeved shirt, a pair of blue jeans and hiking boots.

Pacquiao’s lawyer Judd Burstein listed Lewis among 18 possible witnesses. He was booked for a 30-minute testimony. Others in the witness list included Pacquiao himself for two hours and 30 minutes, Muhammad for six hours and trainer Freddie Roach for an hour.

After the jury was selected, Preska called for a lunch recess from 1 to 2:30 p.m. during which Lewis was informed he would no longer be called to testify.

Lewis was supposed to explain on the witness stand how a fighter is affected mentally if his promoter or manager fails to fulfill contractual obligations such as providing for a comfortable hotel room and tickets for family, friends and fans.

It was alleged that Muhammad promised to provide Pacquiao a two-bedroom suite at the MGM Grand Hotel for the Erik Morales fight last March but took the suite for himself and gave the fighter a single room to share with four others.

But in a preliminary open court discussion with Burstein and Muhammad’s lawyer Julian Friedman, Preska said testimonies of an alleged breach must go to the root or the essence of the contract. It was agreed that in the interest of time, the lawyers would summon only factual, not expert, witnesses.

Aside from Lewis, there were other witnesses scratched out.

Lewis flew from out of town to attend the trial and was warmly greeted by the opposing parties.

Pacquiao was introduced to Lewis during the lunch recess. They exchanged pleasantries and shook hands. Lewis assured Pacquiao of his personal support in the crusade to protect fighters from unscrupulous elements.

Before leaving the building, Lewis was congratulated by several friends for his coming marriage. He is to wed long-time girlfriend Violet Chung, a university student in Jamaica, in September. Chung is the mother of Lewis’ daughter.

Burstein represented Lewis in winning a reported $7.4 Million federal court judgment over promoter Panos Eliades in New York three years ago. A jury ruled that Eliades and his company Panix defrauded Lewis of millions of dollars acting as both his manager and promoter in several bouts. Burstein successfully argued that the theft amounted to racketeering.

As a result of the case, Eliades lost his rights to promote future Lewis fights.

In a related case, Lewis won $1.175 Million in damages from lawyer Milton Chwasky whom he accused of failing to protect him from Eliades. A jury of eight, including seven women, decided the case in New York.

"Lewis testified that Chwasky should have told him that Eliades was taking his money and that there was a conflict of interest because Chwasky worked for the fighter and promoter at the same time," reported BBC Sports.

After winning the case, Lewis said, "I’m asking the rest of the world and other athletes, especially boxers, to fight for their rights."

Lewis retired last year as one of only three world heavyweight champions to relinquish the crown on the throne. The others were Rocky Marciano and Gene Tunney. The 1988 Seoul Olympic gold medalist posted an amateur record of 85-9, with 52 KOs, and a pro record of 41-2-1, with 32 KOs.

In June 2002, Lewis defeated Mike Tyson in a heavyweight title fight in Memphis. In the undercard, Pacquiao stopped Jorge Eliecer Julio in the second round to retain his International Boxing Federation superbantamweight crown.

Reacting to rumors of a comeback, Lewis said: "I boxed professionally for many years and there will always be an attraction to the sport but I am not returning to the ring. The recent attention given to the possibility of a comeback is flattering and evidences the public’s desire for someone to establish a legacy similar to the one I left behind as the true heavyweight champion of the world. I want to reiterate what I said when I retired in February 2004 that I was fortunate to leave the sport on my own terms and that I will be one of the few heavyweight champions in boxing to retire on top and stay retired."