Lennox Lewis vs. Riddick Bowe

[Goodnight, Irene]

Rock Newman outshone them both that night

[Rocky Balboa]

I believe the closest the fight came to actually happening was circa 1992/1993. Had it taken place then Bowe would have proved too much for Lewis, who was not the fighter he would go on to become some years later! At that time, Bowe was much more the advanced fighter. He simply was! At that time, Lewis had not been in a fight such as the one Bowe was in against Holyfield!

Bowe was a great inside fighter. His prime was very brief to say the least & it was blatantly a lack of discipline that cost Riddick a place among the greats. Bowe had the skills to be an all time great, he really did.

Anytime after 1993/1994, Lewis wins as Bowe's skills eroded quickly! For what its worth, I think Lewis hits harder than Bowe. Riddick has the better workrate, better inside fighter!

Would have been interesting to see what Lewis would have come out for this one? The one who too out Andrew Golota or a more cautious approach given that Bowe was a brilliant fighter?

[Goodnight, Irene]

I can't see him racing in to try to finish Bowe half-cocked. Imagine the build-up to such a huge fight. It weighs on a fighters' mind, more than we sometimes think. The stakes, that is.

He didn't try it with a shot Tyson, & he wouldn't try it with a peak Bowe.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Don't know how or when Lewis ever proved he was the better bet when the going, "got tough."

[Robinson]

I don't know if he got better but he did have the ability to dig deep
and pull of some good come behind wins.

Vitali and Bruno being two examples I suppose.

But then he could also be put instantly out as well...and I do not
need to cite those two examples.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I do not know. Then it gets harder Mr GI.

Can I flip a coin ?

I tend to like Bowe for that brief period that he was on his
game.
But two big strong talented men.

Lets say, if you and I were to have a wager either way,
Id be doing it with very sweaty palms.

What are you nervous about? I'm the one who has to collect from a fighter if I win

[Robinson]

Im sure you would make a cool stand over man :)

[Goodnight, Irene]

I think Lewis handled his career (setbacks & successes) better, but I can't let stand the idea he had more, "heart" or was, "tougher" --- in-ring --- than Bowe. Those moments against Briggs, & Bruno, weren't anything compared with what Bowe took from Holyfield &, especially, Golota. Lewis never would've come close to surviving any fight in which he was forced to endure that much.

If, from a career standpoint, you want to argue Lewis was more stable & therefore, "tougher," I couldn't really fault the logic. No question who has heart sewn up, though. Bowe was much, much more durably & courageous than Lewis.

Against Mercer, Lewis was tired, & struggling with the jab. That was a difficult fight for him, but I wouldn't call it a real measure of his toughness, the same way Ali struggled with Norton, but it didn't mean Ali was actually tough (though other fights, obviously, did).

Incidentally, I agree with you Bowe should've gotten the decision in his second fight with Holyfield, but it was close.

If this fight happened to come down to a slug-it-out free-for-all of heavy punches, I'd bet the farm on Bowe to knock Lewis out.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Lewis ran from Holyfield. It was the smart way to fight him, because Evander would have eaten him alive in a fire fight. But to suggest that Lennox was tougher or fought through more adversity than Bowe did would be false. Frankly, I can't even believe I read it.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Yeah, I get where you're coming from, Terry.

[Adamj1987]

Yeah, I get where you're coming from, Terry.

You're a good man, GI

I love both Lewis and Bowe. Excellent boxers the pair of them. I'm ashamed to admit this but I was happy to see Bowe boxing on Setanta last year

its always nice to see a favourite in action even if they shouldnt be

[dom74]

Bowe easily..... his record reads like who's who of boxing. Apart from Holyfield, he also beat Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Herbie Hide, Pierre Coetzer and Andrew Golota twice.

Are you for real!!!!!! THe ONLY reason they didnt fight is because both Bowe and Newman knew Lewis would win. He threw the unified title in the bin rather than face him for gods sake!! And beat Golota twice,,, you mean Golota got DQ'd twice while miles ahead on all 3 cards (he also got ko'd in the 1st by Lewis less than a yr later.) And your putting that as one of his career highlights

[Ezzard]

Bowe easily..... his record reads like who's who of boxing. Apart from Holyfield, he also beat Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Herbie Hide, Pierre Coetzer and Andrew Golota twice.

Are you for real!!!!!! THe ONLY reason they didnt fight is because both Bowe and Newman knew Lewis would win. He threw the unified title in the bin rather than face him for gods sake!! And beat Golota twice,,, you mean Golota got DQ'd twice while miles ahead on all 3 cards (he also got ko'd in the 1st by Lewis less than a yr later.) And your putting that as one of his career highlights

Hi dom74, trust me, Wouter knows all that...

Welcome to the forum...

[dom74]

Bowe easily..... his record reads like who's who of boxing. Apart from Holyfield, he also beat Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Herbie Hide, Pierre Coetzer and Andrew Golota twice.

Are you for real!!!!!! THe ONLY reason they didnt fight is because both Bowe and Newman knew Lewis would win. He threw the unified title in the bin rather than face him for gods sake!! And beat Golota twice,,, you mean Golota got DQ'd twice while miles ahead on all 3 cards (he also got ko'd in the 1st by Lewis less than a yr later.) And your putting that as one of his career highlights

Hi dom74, trust me, Wouter knows all that...

Welcome to the forum...

Then i stand corrected, thanks for the heads up

[Syntax Error]

Lewis ran from Holyfield. It was the smart way to fight him, because Evander would have eaten him alive in a fire fight. But to suggest that Lennox was tougher or fought through more adversity than Bowe did would be false. Frankly, I can't even believe I read it.

I never understood why Lewis felt he couldn't meet Holyfield head on; I mean, he's far bigger than Holyfield; he was physically stronger than the admittedly strong himself Holyfield & he punched harder.