Former three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was, like all of us, sad to hear of the passing of the legendary George Foreman a week ago.

Lewis, now 59, looked up to Foreman and used that as motivation to improve his own skills during the 1990s-early 2000s.

"Great guy, it was sudden," Lewis told The Ring. "George Foreman was a guy who inspired in fighting. I didn't really know too much on him, I focused on Muhammad [Ali.]

"Seeing and hearing him commentate on my fights, I didn't take anything he said bad, I took it as, this is what I need to do, I'm taking in what you're saying to me. If George Foreman says, I'm not throwing enough jabs, I've got to be working on that. He encouraged me to go in the gym and work on that."

Although Lewis is 17-years younger than Foreman their careers intersected for a period in the 1990s, though they never shared a ring together.

Foreman was something of boogeyman in the 1970s before losing to Ali. He retired for a decade before surprisingly returning in 1987 at the age of 38.

A year later, a young Lewis emerged winning gold at the Seoul Olympics. He later turned professional in June 1989.

Foreman stayed very busy notching 24 wins, 23 inside the distance before facing then undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in the "Battle of The Ages" in Atlantic City in April 1991. Despite a fine effort, youth was served and Holyfield won a hard fought 12-round unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, Lewis cleaned up domestically winning British, Commonwealth and European titles and then a WBC eliminator against Razor Ruddock (TKO 2). When Riddick Bowe infamously vacated the belt, Lewis was elevated to WBC titlist.

While Foreman had won three fights and lost to Tommy Morrison (UD 12) in a shot at the WBO title, Lewis had made three defenses. Foreman shocked the world when he scored a come from behind knockout over IBF/ WBA beltholder Michael Moorer (KO 10) in April 1994.

At that point a fight between Lewis and Foreman would have been a blockbuster hit. However, Lewis never seriously entertained it.

"Yes, it was there and I boycotted it," he revealed. "I would never win, I learnt of Larry Holmes. When Larry Holmes boxed Muhammad Ali, I was upset in the sense, he shouldn't really be boxing him and then you shouldn't treat him like that in the ring.

"It was disturbing for me watching it. I looked at myself, if I boxed George Foreman, kids would be looking at me the same way because you can't help it, that's why I say you can never win."