Legendary boxing promoter Ronald "Butch" Lewis died Saturday at the age of 65, according to a number of media reports.
Lewis reportedly suffered a massive heart attack in the wee hours of Saturday morning in his Bethany Beach, Del., home and died at approximately 5 a.m. ET.
Lewis began promoting boxing matches in the 1970s and played a key role in one of the biggest and most popular times in the sport's history, putting together bouts that featured the biggest names in the ring at the time including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and the Spinks brothers, Michael and Leon.
Speaking of the Spinks, it was Lewis who put together one of the sport's biggest paydays, $13.5 million, in a bout that featured Michael Spinks against Mike Tyson.
While he made his initial mark in boxing, Lewis expanded his reach into entertainment in 1991, establishing Butch Lewis Productions, which produced movies and cable TV programs, as well as starting his own record label, Voicez.
"RIP my man Butch Lewis. Great guy. You will be missed," rap mogul Sean Combs tweeted.
I was really surprised to see a tweet from Steve Harvey about this earlier this morning. So shocking. I don't remember him as a boxing promoter; just from awards shows because he often wore a vest, no shirt and a bow-tie. It was the weirdest look for an older man (and when I say older, I mean 'older than the average age of someone who listens to hip-hop), but he rocked it though.
R.I.P. Mr. Lewis. Prayers and condolences definitely go out to your loved ones during this time of bereavement.
