Heavyweight Boxer Gary Mason Killed in Cycling Accident in London

Former British heavyweight boxing champion Gary Mason died Thursday after a bicycle he was riding collided with a van on Sandy Lane South in Wallington, London.

The 43-year-old man who was driving the Vauxhall van has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, and bailed until March pending further inquiries.

Mason was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Mason, whose only defeat was to Lennox Lewis at Wembley Stadium, has fought 38 times in his professional career.

Mason was British champion from January 1989-March 1991, when he lost to Lewis.

The Mason vs. Lewis fight was seen my many in the UK as a passport to the world stage, as both fighters were featured prominently in the WBC rankings.

Prior to the fight, Gary Mason was ranked fifth by the WBC, though Lewis was not in the top 10.

But both boxers were close to being in the circle of great heavyweight fighters, which included Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and George Foreman, among others.

Boxing promoter Frank Maloney described Mason as "one of the nice guys of boxing.

"Even if things were going wrong for him, he cheered other people up," he said.

The fight with Lewis ended Mason's career, he added. "One man's career ended and one man's career went forward.

"Gary was a good heavyweight but he was around at the wrong time, with the likes of Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno."

Gary Mason was a British boxer who was based in Chatham, Kent. He was born in London, England, of Jamaican descent.  He fought at heavyweight and became British heavyweight champion in 1989.

Mason was a top-10 contender, his main strengths being his excellent chin, punching power, heart and physical strength.