Music's Dr. Dre narrates this decent appreciation/bio of World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis, in life and career leading up to a much-ballyhooed boxing match against Mike Tyson (enough sidelights about Tyson are dropped in to make this nearly a dual bio, or at least elevate Tyson into more than just a walk-on villain).
Lewis is introduced as an at-risk West Indian kid largely abandoned, almost Harry Potter-like, to cruel relatives in London. Young Lennox had the good fortune to finally join his mother in Canada. The stalwart police force of Kitchener, Ontario, recognized his talent and enlightened the troubled boy to their lively gym and boxing culture (it is not missed that white cops mentoring a problem-prone black kid off the streets was/is an all too rare circumstance).
His camera-friendly charisma and well-spoken manner and dedication marked him as a "scientific" boxer who studied strategy (Lewis plays chess), and he attempted to learn from his mistakes and adapt to his opponents' styles. He won an international following thanks to his heritage—Jamaica, Canada, and the UK. Lewis took home Junior Heavyweight gold in the Olympics and even logged an appearance in Ocean's Eleven with George Clooney (concurrent with a humiliating surprise defeat in a Johannesburg bout).
Square-ring notables such as George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, Don King, and Muhammad Ali thread through the narrative, culminating in Lewis' decision to retire with his World Heavyweight title intact and stable post-boxing life of home and family.
The "untold story" part of the Lennox Lewis saga is perhaps over-sold; the big secret widely portended mainly being that British boxing promoter Frank Maloney, a close associate, decided to identify as female and underwent a sex change to become `Kellie' Maloney—a move Lewis publicly supported.
Nitpickers might complain that the chronicles go maybe a few more rounds than is necessary (and even runs bloopers over the closing credits), but heavyweight pugilism fans will be a key audience and seek seats ringside. In addition to boxing violence, there is some R-level language. Recommended for sports shelves. Aud: C, P.