Lewis-Bowe 1993?

[Ezzard]

It wasn't just poor training though. Bowe also neglected his best tactics. When he used that jab he was almost untouchable but he often just didn't bother with it. He controls Holyfield in the 2nd fight with the jab, then just stops using it and loses the decision.

You know that with Lewis you're more likely to get a considered performance.

[Heartbreak_Kid79]

Lewis takes a decision.
Think about all the troubles Golota gave Bowe in their two fights!
Lewis fights cautiously and keeps Bowe at range on the end of his jab

[Ambling Alp]

The Olympic Fight means nothing. They were both still amatuers, far from the fighters that they would eventually be. There are numerous examples of of the loser of an amatuer fight being a far better pro. Larry Holmes lost to Duane Bobick for example.

The whole trash can thing didn't mean anything. I don't think anyone at the time thought Bowe was really afraid of Lewis. (It seemed inevitable that they would fight eventually, but things kept getting in the way.
That being said, Bowe should have taken the fight.

If they had fought at that time, or shortly after, it would have been a very interesting fight.
Lewis did have the better defense, and was a little harder puncher. So the chance of Lewis hurt Bowe would always be there.
However, contrary to popular belief, Lewis did not have a great jab; in fact sometimes it wasn't effective at all. Bowe had a better one. Bowe also was better at fighting inside.

This is a fight where almost anything could happen. It could end at anytime with a KO by either guy ( a little more likely that Lewis would do it) or it go very well got the distance.

If they fought 10 times, the results would be something like 5 wins a piece, with Lewis scoring 3 KO's and Bowe 2.

We as boxing fans were cheated out of what may have been a great fight(s) and certainly would have helped the winner's legacy.

[My2Sense]

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.

I agree with this 100%. Plus the fact that Bowe wanted a quick tune-up fight and was eyeing possible big money defenses against Mercer and Holyfield.

It wasn't simply a matter of "Bowe ducked Lewis". That would be like saying "Lewis ducked Byrd/Ruiz" when Lennox gave up his titles not to fight either of them.

And I agree, I would take the Lewis that stomped Ruddock over Bowe. As someone else said, shame it didn't happen.