Lewis-Bowe 1993?

[Rocky Balboa]

At that stage of their careers, I think Bowe is the better fighter & would have beaten Lennox had the fight taken palce back then. Bowe-Lewis was definately one that got away. Such a shame we didn't see that one!

Who's your money on?

[SteveO]

My money would have been on Lewis. Bowe knew he couldn't beat Lennox and that's why he dumped the WBC belt in the trash can rather than have to face him in the ring.

[dempseyfire]

My money would have been on Lewis. Bowe knew he couldn't beat Lennox and that's why he dumped the WBC belt in the trash can rather than have to face him in the ring.

That's not true. Bowe dumped the belt due to a sanctioning fee issue and his own ego (it's explained by another poster in a very old discussion on this issue if you search for it). Bowe went into the ring again with a guy who KTFO his own nuts, it makes no sense why he'd be afraid of Lewis, especially since the Olympic stoppage was pretty bogus.

That being said, I favor Lennox.

[Robinson]

I think Bowe wins this...tough hard fight. I wish it happened.

[ben geoghegan]

Lennox KO'ed Bowe in the gold medal match of the Olympics. No way Bowe wanted any of that. Rock Newman was in it for the spectacle and he wasn't going to slay his cash cow by matching him with Lewis.

Lewis KO6

[dempseyfire]

Lennox KO'ed Bowe in the gold medal match of the Olympics. No way Bowe wanted any of that. Rock Newman was in it for the spectacle and he wasn't going to slay his cash cow by matching him with Lewis.

Lewis KO6

He didn't KO him, he landed a hard right which stunned Riddick, the ref gave Bowe a count, Bowe lifted his hands up indicating he was fine, and the ref stopped the fight. Bowe was nailed much harder in the pro ranks several times.

[Goodnight, Irene]

DempseyFire is right, the stoppage was a poor one, even by amateur standards. I'm not sure I'd pick the peak Lewis of the late 90's-early 00's to beat the Bowe who first toppled Holyfield. In 1993, I've little doubt Lewis' awkward balance & technical deficiences (which he later corrected, to give him his due) would result in a knockout result.

Bowe KO's Lewis in the early 90's. He may've done it peak-for-peak, for that matter.

[jezzamundo]

This could have been a great fight, probably the greatest big man heavyweight fight in history. I think both come out aggressively, landing bombs, Lewis knocks Bowe down with a big right in round 2, then tries to finish him off in round 3 only to be knocked out himself.

Bowe KO3 Lewis

If the fight took place in 1995 I think Lewis stops Bowe around round 7. If we are talking prime vs prime, Lewis stops Bowe late. Bowe may have been formidable against Holyfield, but he was always easy to hit and Lewis hit damn hard.

[Ezzard]

I think Bowe dumped the belt because he knew Lewis was a risk. I don't think he was scared. I believe he wanted the fight but believed that ihe bank a few more defences and let the bad blood cook a while longer to make a real superfight. Very few fighters are really scared of an opponent, not at that level anyway.

At the time I thought Bowe would win, but looking back I'm not sure. Bowe was rarely on his game even in big fights.

One thing though. Dumping belts in rubbish bins/trash cans is a disgrace (whether it's Bowe or Honeyghan). Men died trying to win championship belts. You think these guys would act wiht more grace.

[Robinson]

Dumping the belts is silly.....but it must get complicated holding
all of these 'belts'....so many sanctioning fee's, compromises and
mandatories....these are bullshit, money scabbing aspects of the sport
that the linear greats of ye olde never had to face...

having said that...Bowe and Lewis had some history, both men talked
as though they wanted it...Lewis did the right thing at the time by
beating the right guys. It should have happened.

[yiddo14]

Such a shame this fight did not happen, a real tragedy in modern Heavyweight Boxing.
I would favour Lennox but it would have been close and maybe we would have seen a trilogy between the two.
Bowe in his pomp was pretty tasty fighter and could and probably should have gone onto to eclipse Tyson and Holyfield in that era and challenge Lewis as the best of that time.

Shame we missed out on such fights.

For what it's worth, I don't think Bowe was scared of Lewis(talking about top class Heavyweight fighters here afterall) but I think he hated him so much he was scared of losing to Lewis.

[Poncey]

For me, the sanctioning theory doesn't hold water with regard to Him facing Lewis. He could've still fought after he dumped the belt.

That said, at that point in Lewis's career he'd have lost a close decision in my opinion. But only because he hadn't peaked yet.

[Ezzard]

For me, the sanctioning theory doesn't hold water with regard to Him facing Lewis. He could've still fought after he dumped the belt.

exactly...

[Robinson]

Would have given Bowe alot more credibility...win or lose.

[dr_devious]

Lewis KO round 8 or 9. Bowe ducked Lewis to the extent that he threw his WBC belt in the rubbish bin, fact

[Robinson]

Yes that is a fact....that however does not secure an opinion that
Lewis would have won...however deserving he was at facing Bowe.

[dr_devious]

I think Bowe was scared of Lewis, after his loss in the olympics, and didnt want to fight him again, hence why he threw the belt away. If they had met, Lewis would have gone into the fight with the mental advantage, giving him a very good chance of victory. Pity we will never find out, they were two great heavyweights

[Robinson]

Sadly we will never find out.....

I do not think he was scared of Lewis...

[dr_devious]

Then why did he throw the WBC belt away? Why did he want to avoid Lewis

[ben geoghegan]

Lewis was getting stronger and Bowe fading. Bowe was hurt twice in the second round. Both times his was in a complete daze. He put his hands over his head that's the first sign the fighter isn't all there at the moment. When it was stopped he was still leaning and teetering. Newman didn't let him fight Lewis because he didn't want that again. Bowe happy to oblige. Lewis fought the better competition in his career and Bowe is a footnote to history, justifying it

[generic screen name]

I think both of their styles would've made for an entertaining fight..... but and its a big BUT, Bowe would've had to train his ass off!!!! Nothing wrong with Bowe's heart or skill at all! It was just dedication outside the ring, and that's why I think Lewis would win. Bowe looked like an all time great in his first match against Holyfield, but when he got into his lazy undedicated mode, Bowe was the fat slob he turned out to be! The Golota fights showed that he had TONS of heart despite weight fluctuating himself out of the heavyweight scene and getting battered round by round!

[yiddo14]

Then why did he throw the WBC belt away? Why did he want to avoid Lewis

Bowe hated Lewis, but I think he hated the thought of losing to Lewis even more hence the reason he went in a different sirection.
I would never say Bowe was scared of him.

Again, it's a crying shame these two never fought in the pro's.
They could have made big money and produced a couple of classics. Lewis would also have got his chance to beat a great fighter in his pomp(although Holyfield wasn't that far removed from his prime when Lewis beat him)

[BoxBuzz]

This one is Bowe's to lose IMHO. And he probably would have.

At his best Bowe may have been the better fighter, But Lewis was more often inspired to be at his best than Bowe was. Which I suppose actually does make Lewis the better fighter.

It's not your potential, it's what you are able to produce from the potentional that you have.

IMHO

[BoxBuzz]

Having said that, if I believed both fighters walked in dead serious and trained to the best of there ability I would have no trouble betting on Bowe.

[Seamus]

The Olympics and Bowe's not signing to fight Lewis are meaningless arguments.

Lewis had the better defense and it's conceivable that he could have outboxed Bowe and won a decision, but if this turns into a war, I'd take Bowe by stoppage around the 10th. He was just plain tougher than Lewis.