Lennox Lewis: Colin Hart was revered and pushed for the truth – at first he doubted me but I used it to fuel my career
I WAS only with Colin at the undisputed heavyweight world title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia in May and he looked so fit and strong.
We were sat behind Usyk’s wife and when she kept standing up to cheer on her man, Colin was politely telling her to sit down so he could see the action.
Even in the VIP seats, Colin was still in ‘journalist mode’ wanting to capture every second and know exactly what had happened.
Afterwards, when Usyk had got his hand raised, his wife and Colin had a lovely chat. She apologised and said she couldn’t help supporting the husband she loves so much. And Colin told her that Usyk was a lucky man.
Now I realise that was our last time together, it feels like a really nice one.
Early on in our careers, things were definitely not as cosy.
Because I came over to the UK from Canada, with my Olympic win, Colin didn’t take to me.
It seemed like he was a proud Englishman, proud of his country and its fighters, so I felt he picked against me, especially when I boxed a guy he felt was more British than me.
I remember he picked Gary Mason and Frank Bruno to beat me, even though all of the other reporters were in my corner.
But it ended up being a great inspiration to me, because he was respected, I took his doubts about me and used them as fuel.
When I proved him wrong I would look out for him in the front row and press seats and try to catch his eye.
I loved proving him wrong and I could see he felt that too.
It was a good healthy professional relationship, where he had questions about me and I was eager to answer them.
Eventually he did realise that I was the real deal, I answered all of his questions and I cured all of his doubts.
He admitted he had got me wrong and I respected that, that’s how things should work between men.
It was clear that he was revered among all the other reporters, he was clearly the leader of the boxing press pack.
I don’t think anyone else ever started off a press conference or an interview ahead of Colin.
The other reporters waited for him to lead and sometimes he would get about 10 questions off before anyone else dared ask some.
I even remember a couple of times when he finished his list of questions, closed up his notepad, tucked away his pen and walked off, just when the other writers were getting the chance to start their questions!
He was that confident in his research and questions that he didn’t need to hang around and listen to the leftovers, he was off to write his words.
I noticed it around my era but it’s even more prevalent recently, some reporters seem afraid to ask the real questions, or push for the truth, because the fighter or promoter or manager might get angry or cancel their accreditation.
There doesn’t seem to be the same desire to get to the real truth anymore.
Fighters and their achievements are often way overblown or their failings and mistakes are ignored and glossed over.
From my years working with Colin, I could never accuse him of that.
I think he would like to know that.
I knew that he wanted to get to the truth and tell the truth and – if he upset people along the way – so be it.
It looks like it’s sometimes hard to have a good name in journalism, to be trusted, but I felt like Colin had that.
His longevity made him an icon in British boxing but I think the fact that his name and his word was respected probably meant much to him.
Sporting world pays tribute...
THE sporting world has paid emotional tributes to The Sun's legendary Voice of Boxing.
Ricky Hatton said: “I am so sad to hear of the passing of Colin Hart. Colin followed my career from the start all the way through to the big fights in Vegas. Colin is one of the last great boxing journalists and he will be sadly missed. RIP old mate.”
Michael Buffer said: “I was honoured to know the legendary Boxing Hall of Fame journalist, Colin Hart, for almost all of my career in the sport. His writings and passion for boxing are universally recognised as among the best ever.”
Joe Calzaghe said: “Colin was a real giant of boxing writers and there will never be another like him. He will be sorely missed and my deepest condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues.”
Read more tributes including from Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno.