Here is the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the rec.sport.boxing.what-if.lucianus Usenet newsgroup. This FAQ is available on the Web at http://www.ultranet.com/~seiler/stories/lucianus.htm .
A picture of Lucianus Autonomus may be available now, courtesy of himself. (As of May 1997, we're still waiting.) It is his own drawing from a portrait, but it still looks remarkably accurate.
If you have comments, either post to the Usenet newsgroup, or e-mail me, or both. My address is seiler@ma.ultranet.com .
Thanks, Scott
Disclaimer: The information in this document has been taken from reputable sources and is considered as accurate as possible. However, nobody's perfect. As such, nobody here takes responsibility for incorrect or inaccurate information in this document, beyond correcting the error.
Francis Scott Lucas was born in the District of Columbia in 1949, of mixed ancestry, mostly Caucasian. By all accounts, his childhood was combative, to say the least. By his own account ("Championis Predestinatus", available via separate publisher), this led to his being a professional boxer.
He had regular access via District of Columbia Metropolitan Subway (the "Metro") throughout Washington, D.C. throughout his formative years. By his own account, he viewed the paintings on the dome of the United States Capitol Building and concluded:
After Lucianus had a quarrel with his promoter, he added "Autonomus" to his name, to indicate his freedom from normal promotion channels.
As he added championships to his boxing record, he added "Championis" to his name. His full known list of names is:
Lucianus Autonomus.
Anyone who is nearly seven feet tall and 340 pounds can have a compelling presence. Lucianus Autonomus makes the most of his, without being intimidating (except when he wants to be). When he did the talk-show circuit in the early 1970s, he made numerous contacts in the entertainment industry. This led to Elton John recording the hit song "Lucianus".
He has never told anyone. His supposed reasons include:
In perspective: When Lucianus Autonomus took residence in Cuba, he challenged the world to send a boxer to defeat him in Havana. Muhammad Ali took the United States championship, and challenged Lucianus, who accepted. The fight was sanctioned by the usual authorities, whom Lucianus trusted.
It is suspected that the Ford administration put pressure on the boxing commission. In any case, the decision in Havana was controversial. Lucianus knocked Muhammad down several times but this was not counted against Muhammad. Muhammad knocked Lucianus down once, and this was counted. The fight was awarded to Muhammad Ali over Lucianus Autonomus in a split decision.
Lucianus made no protest. In a public statement he said, "If I don't trust the referees, I won't box." And thus began his retirement.
Best evidence is that Lucianus Autonomus became a "disciple" of one or more Oriental disciplines. He is known to have hosted a number of Asian mystic and martial arts masters at his home in Cuba.
When Mike Tyson became the "world champion" and then was jailed for sexual assault, Lucianus Autonomus made a public statement against him. When Mike Tyson was released from jail and became a champion again, Lucianus challenged him.
In 1994 when they fought, Lucianus Autonomus was 45. Many people compared Lucianus to Muhammad Ali fighting Leon Spinks. Lucianus responded, "Ali was imprisoned. Tyson was imprisoned. Ali was righteous and won. Tyson is a sinner and will lose."
Lucianus was right. Mike Tyson was battered down in a unanimous decision.
Certainly Lucianus kept himself in a rare state of fitness for a man of his age. It is rumored that his Asian visitors in Cuba have secret means of thwarting age. But this is only rumor. Lucianus has himself denied this. He only says, "I am a man. A man will do whatever he must."
The fight between Mike Tyson and Lucianus Autonomus was not sanctioned by any boxing authority. Lucianus Autonomus has, despite defeating the world champion, declined all challenge. By his own statement, "There are more important things than the championship of men."