Why didn't Lewis, Bowe and Tyson fight each other?

[Jesus]

(as far as im concerned Lewis vs Tyson never happened)

These were the best guys in the heavyweight division early-mid 90's yet they never fought each other. I saw a video of Bowe throwing his title in the trash and refusing to fight Lewis, what was the storyy behind this? Why did Lewis and Tyson not fight in there primes? Why didn't Tyson and Bowe fight? Holyfield fought all 3 of them which just goes to show the balls he had! Why couldn't the other guys show abit of courage and fight each other it would have made that era of heavyweight boxing truely memorable.

[Craig14]

Bowe was scared to fight Lewis and Tyson!
And Lewis beat Tyson! - you can't pretend it didn't happen! - Well maybe in your world!!!

[Craig14]

Maybe we should pretend that Lewis fought Tyson, and then Bowe fought the winner!

[Jesus]

come on guys neither Lewis or Tyson (epsecially) were in there primes when they fought.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Holyfield was the best Heavyweight of the early to mid 90's.

After that, Bowe & Tyson both ducked Lewis. At least Mike had the courtesy to pay him off.

[Diamond WEAPON]

Bowe essentially ducked Lewis, and although I'm a fan of Bowe and would genuinely like to believe he would've beaten Lewis, I think his actions spoke loud & clear of his (or at least his handlers') thoughts of that proposed matchup.

As for Bowe-Tyson, Mike was tossed in Prison when Bowe was barely reaching toward contender status, and by the time Mike got out Bowe was pretty much a spent force getting hammered by Golota. He had already been dethroned by Holyfield and Foreman was the lineal champ at the time of his release. We already know what Tyson's people thought about Iron Mike fighting somebody like Foreman and he was conveniently stripped of his titles anyway, so despite having Lineal status, he lacked the trinkets which were then handed out to others such as Seldon (whom Mike then beat) and Moorer (beaten by Holyfield in the rematch).

In the mid-90's there was a lot of political BS going on with the HW crown as you can see so Don King's plan appeared to simply be for Tyson to start collecting the trinkets in order of least-to-most dangerous opponent along with going after "money" fights (former victim Bruno for the WBC belt, paper champ Seldon for the WBA, with what I'm sure were eventual intentions to pursue Moorer after he were to have beaten Holyfield for a bigger money fight). Holyfield as mentioned before, was a money grab, as he was considered past-prime by some and washed-up by others following his performances against Moorer and Bowe in their rubber match. The WBC had ordered Tyson to defend against Lewis next but he wasn't as big a name as Holyfield and was definitely a bigger threat, so I'm sure Don figured they'd fight later on after a sequence that would have likely ideally went Holyfield-Moorer-Foreman-Lewis.


Then of course Tyson bit Holyfield and engaged in all kinds of shit that delayed any kind of showdown with Lewis for several years, with Tyson making himself into a sideshow running parallell to the actual HW elite competetion of the late-90's.

[Goodnight, Irene]

"When I saw Mike Tyson, I crossed the street." - Riddick Bowe.

I am not too high on the idea Bowe was actually afraid of Lewis, but he was intimidated by Tyson.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I thought Bowe would beat Lewis at the time. If he went straight into a Holyfield rematch for more money it would be one thing. But while picking up 10 million to fight 3 rds against Ferguson & dokes makes sense, it was still a big time duck job from Bowe.

Do you have another scenario of why he backed out of the tournament and relinquished a title to fight for less money?

[Goodnight, Irene]

I thought Bowe would beat Lewis at the time. If he went straight into a Holyfield rematch for more money it would be one thing. But while picking up 10 million to fight 3 rds against Ferguson & dokes makes sense, it was still a big time duck job from Bowe.

Do you have another scenario of why he backed out of the tournament and relinquished a title to fight for less money?

Yes, he would've beaten Lewis --- not yet in his prime --- at that time, IMO.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I thought Bowe would beat Lewis at the time. If he went straight into a Holyfield rematch for more money it would be one thing. But while picking up 10 million to fight 3 rds against Ferguson & dokes makes sense, it was still a big time duck job from Bowe.

Do you have another scenario of why he backed out of the tournament and relinquished a title to fight for less money?

Yes, he would've beaten Lewis --- not yet in his prime --- at that time, IMO.

Then why wouldn't he fight him? I love the match up for him style wise at the time. But self belief is pretty crucial in this sport. I don't think he believed he could beat him.

[Goodnight, Irene]

That's plausible. In truth, so is the on-going dispute over contractual arrangements. Newman was a hard-ball kind of player, & wasn't easy in his own right to please at the table.

What do you make of Bowe & Lewis' actual fight? It's once in a Blue Moon (if that) the deplorable Ferdie Pacheco & I agree, but this was one such instance. It was a terrible stoppage, IMO.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't complain much about amateur decisions/officiating. I just expect it to be horrible. To be honest, I can't even watch it anymore.

[Jesus]

I don't complain much about amateur decisions/officiating. I just expect it to be horrible. To be honest, I can't even watch it anymore.

i remember roy jones getting robbed in korea....shocking....

[Rocky Balboa]

Holyfield was the best Heavyweight of the early to mid 90's.

After that, Bowe & Tyson both ducked Lewis. At least Mike had the courtesy to pay him off.

In 1996, Lewis was offered something in the region of $10,000,000 to face Tyson, but declined the offer, citing it wasn't big enough! Contrary to popular belief, Tyson did not duck Lewis!

I'm pretty sure in Frank Maloney's book, NO BALONEY, he toches upon the Lewis camp being offered the purse to face Tyson!

Tyson did not duck anyone & whether he lost or won, he fought the best around!

Bowe-Lewis, the closest that came to happening was in 1993. If the fight happens then, I pick Bowe! At that time, Bowe was the more advanced fighter. Lewis was not the fighter he would go on to become!

[Goodnight, Irene]

I agree with most of the above, but Tyson fought, "the best around?"

Please. He feasted on trash for years.

[jrc26]

Bowe-Tyson was going to be made until a pesky Polish guy named Golota wrecked what was left of Bowe. I believe Golota was considered a 'keep busy' fight until they fought Tyson.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Holyfield was the best Heavyweight of the early to mid 90's.

After that, Bowe & Tyson both ducked Lewis. At least Mike had the courtesy to pay him off.

In 1996, Lewis was offered something in the region of $10,000,000 to face Tyson, but declined the offer, citing it wasn't big enough! Contrary to popular belief, Tyson did not duck Lewis!

I'm pretty sure in Frank Maloney's book, NO BALONEY, he toches upon the Lewis camp being offered the purse to face Tyson!

Tyson did not duck anyone & whether he lost or won, he fought the best around!

Bowe-Lewis, the closest that came to happening was in 1993. If the fight happens then, I pick Bowe! At that time, Bowe was the more advanced fighter. Lewis was not the fighter he would go on to become!

Tyson paid Lewis step aside money, I don't recall exactly when that was. Foreman was awfully interested in Mike and that would have been the richest fight in history. They also ducked Holyfield after the Dokes fight. That was an official eliminator. I say they because I've always considered it King more than Tyson himself. But the actions took place. Just like Bowe tossed his belt in the trash can instead of fighting Lewis. As I've already said, I thought Bowe would beat him too. Maybe Riddick disagreed with us.

Circumstances aside, Holyfield is the only Heavyweight of that era who fought all of the best. that is factual.

[Bricks]

Bowe was scared to fight Lewis and Tyson!
And Lewis beat Tyson! - you can't pretend it didn't happen! - Well maybe in your world!!!

Yeah he beat a guy who had trouble sitting on his in ring stool without falling onto the floor.

Still you cant blame Lewis it isnt his fault the 1991 Tyson went to prison. It isnt his fault the 1996 Tyson paid step aside money to avoid Lewis.

[Rocky Balboa]

I don't deny for a second that Lewis was paid step-a-side money, but make no mistake, Lewis' camp was offered a fight with Tyson, & a purse was laid on the table! Tonight I'm going to re-read some of Frank Maloney's book - NO BALONEY - I'm pretty sure its in there!

[dempseyfire]

I thought Bowe would beat Lewis at the time. If he went straight into a Holyfield rematch for more money it would be one thing. But while picking up 10 million to fight 3 rds against Ferguson & dokes makes sense, it was still a big time duck job from Bowe.

Do you have another scenario of why he backed out of the tournament and relinquished a title to fight for less money?

From what I recall, the tourny required options for something like 3 fights on the winner for some promotional outfit. Newman of course balked and they left the deal. Not sure if it's true but that's what I've read.

[Bricks]

I don't deny for a second that Lewis was paid step-a-side money, but make no mistake, Lewis' camp was offered a fight with Tyson, & a purse was laid on the table! Tonight I'm going to re-read some of Frank Maloney's book - NO BALONEY - I'm pretty sure its in there!

Rocky I didnt know about this. did you get a chance to read Maloneys book? what does he say?

[J]

Holyfield was the best Heavyweight of the early to mid 90's.

After that, Bowe & Tyson both ducked Lewis. At least Mike had the courtesy to pay him off.

In 1996, Lewis was offered something in the region of $10,000,000 to face Tyson, but declined the offer, citing it wasn't big enough! Contrary to popular belief, Tyson did not duck Lewis!

I'm pretty sure in Frank Maloney's book, NO BALONEY, he toches upon the Lewis camp being offered the purse to face Tyson!

Tyson did not duck anyone & whether he lost or won, he fought the best around!

Bowe-Lewis, the closest that came to happening was in 1993. If the fight happens then, I pick Bowe! At that time, Bowe was the more advanced fighter. Lewis was not the fighter he would go on to become!

dude by your admission you are a tyson junkie, he paid lewis to step aside FACT.

the above is hearsay and the first time ive actually heard it.

tyson fought the best around really a 40 year old homes, bruno, seldon...not exactly stellar is it

[Shpati]

I did recall after the Lewis-Mercer fight, Lewis did say he fought Mercer to prepare for Mike Tyson because he knew Tyson was the best Heavyweight champion to beat right now. And I think that Lewis wanted Tyson more after he lost to Holyfield.

[gilgamesh]

Bowe had been knocked out in the Olympics by Lennox and that was with the benefit of headgear. So he damn sure didn't want no part of him without it.

Bowe vs Tyson would've been a lot of fun I'm sure, kinda sucks we didn't get that one.

Lewis vs Tyson happened when it happened. Of course everyone would've preferred them to show down in their primes, but the fact is their primes came at different times. Sure they could've fought in 1991 or 1992. That would've been closer to Tyson's prime, but Lewis hadn't really hit his yet. I suppose 1995 or 1996 would've been the best time for the fight to happen as far as both men being in top form, or as close as they were gonna get to ever being evenly matched anyhow.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Bowe had been knocked out in the Olympics by Lennox and that was with the benefit of headgear. So he damn sure didn't want no part of him without it.

Bowe vs Tyson would've been a lot of fun I'm sure, kinda sucks we didn't get that one.

Lewis vs Tyson happened when it happened. Of course everyone would've preferred them to show down in their primes, but the fact is their primes came at different times. Sure they could've fought in 1991 or 1992. That would've been closer to Tyson's prime, but Lewis hadn't really hit his yet. I suppose 1995 or 1996 would've been the best time for the fight to happen as far as both men being in top form, or as close as they were gonna get to ever being evenly matched anyhow.

Oh, please, "knocked out." Even by Amateur standards, Lewis-Bowe was a fucken retarded stoppage call.