Retired world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has come out in support for Jamaican Olympic boxing hopeful, Janathan Hanson’s fundraising campaign. Hanson has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to raise the US$4,000 need to cover his trip to the Final Olympic Trials in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June, to qualify for the year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An Olympic gold medalist and British athlete of Jamaica heritage himself, Lennox tweeted about Hanson’s campaign, and encouraged his followers to support him.
“Amateur boxer @MufasaHanson raising funds for #Rio2016 #Olympics. Pls support &share!” Lewis tweeted.
“I was amazed really,” Hanson said about the famed boxer’s public support. “He didn’t just press the retweet button, he actually put the story in his own words and shared it.”
Hanson is hoping Lewis’ appeal will help him achieve his goal. “The last time a Jamaican boxer made it to the Olympics was in 1996 and it’s been 20 years since!” said Hanson in the GoFundMe appeal. “However, I firmly believe I can change that. I’m a 4-time national champion, three-time Boxer of the Year and the current middleweight Caribbean champion with a record of 45-8. Also, with five Olympic qualifying spots open in my weight class, I’m assured, if not certain, I can qualify for the Olympics.”
