news June 2002
Lennox Lewis defeated Mike Tyson to retain the WBC and IBF heavyweight boxing championships in a match that took place in Memphis, Tennessee on 8 June. The fight had been delayed from its original April date as many states refused to grant Tyson a licence following a press conference brawl. Although Tyson was able to keep pace in the first round, Lewis dominated the fight and knocked out the former champion in the eighth round.
On 22 June, Europe was declared polio-free by the WHO. Polio had previously been eradicated in the Americas in 1994, and this new elimination was a major milestone in the global effort to eradicate the disease, which had begun in 1988.
Brazil faced Germany in the final of the 2002 World Cup at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, on 30 June. The South Americans were favoured over a defensively impressive German side that had been scoring few goals, and delivered on the prematch predictions with Ronaldo scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory. A number of records were set during the match: Germany suffered a record fourth finals loss, while Brazil set a record of five World Cup victories. The Brazilian captain Cafu also became the only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals.