Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story: what's it about and where to watch the new documentary about the boxing heavyweight

A new sports documentary aims to shine a light on one of the most well-known personalities in the world of professional boxing.

Lennox: The Untold Story is an officially sanctioned documentary that chronicles the incredible life and career of Lennox Lewis.

The Brit, who competed from 1989 to 2003, is a three-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time lineal champion, and remains the last heavyweight to hold the undisputed championship.

Here is everything you need to know about the film.

What is it about?

The film begins by taking an unprecedented look at Lewis humble beginnings as just another troubled youth in West Ham, before he is uprooted to Canada where he discovers his natural ability in the boxing ring.

The Untold Story is narrated by Lewis' friend and legendary hip-hop artist Dr Dre, and charts Lewis’ journey to the top of heavyweight boxing, featuring unseen archive footage and interviews.

"Throughout his life and career, Lennox Lewis struggled against ever increasing obstacles that would tarnish the reputation of most athletes,” says the film’s synopsis.

"His biggest obstacle was getting the respect he deserved from the boxing public as well as notorious boxers like Riddick Bowe and Mike Tyson, who for decades refused to fight Lennox for the championship title."

Lennox met Tyson when they were teenagers training for the 1984 Olympics. Although there was a lot of tension between Lewis and Tyson before their 2002 fight, their friendship was rekindled when they were both pall-bearers at the funeral of Mohammad Ali.

"Join us on a journey into the making of a champ, in a story of redemption and triumph, of pain and passion, and how an unusual approach to life and sports led Lennox Lewis to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world.”

How in depth is the film?

Making appearances in the film are Lewis himself, along with his family. closest trends, colleagues and boxing adversaries, including Mike Tyson and George Foreman.

The filmmakers travelled to London, Toronto, Las Vegas, New York, and Miami to complete filming, not to mention the arduous task of combing through 150 hours of Lennox's fights and interviews.

Lewis was himself involved in the production, allowing filmmakers into his Jamaican home and travelling with the crew to visit his old home-town of Kitchener, Ontario.

Who’s directed it?

The film is directed by Seth Koch and Rick Lazes.

The film marks the feature length debut for both Koch and Lazes, who are also finishing up work on Kellie, a documentary centred on famous British transgender boxing manager Kellie Maloney, who makes an interview appearance in The Untold Story.

Koch and Lazes are also slated to direct a film about notorious con man Victor Lustig in the coming months, and are collaborating on a Broadway production about the life of legendary fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

Where can I watch it?

Lennox: The Untold Story was released on Monday 16 November.

It is available on DVD through Amazon, where you can also purchase a digital copy of the film.

Digital versions of the documentary are also available through iTunes, to either rent or buy.