BoxRec

Who wins? I believe this was a 55/45 fight!!!! Riddick Bowe in his prime had all of the tools to KO Lewis...Long jab, inside fighting, stamina, big

right hand, left hook, killer instinct, etc...

Lennox Lewis-the SAME tools!!!!!!

BUT.....At their best aside from the skills Bowe had serious DOG in his arsenal..there was bad blood and Bowe would have really went after

after Lennox Lewis I believe. Imagine the Bowe that fought Jorge Luis Gonzales in the ring with Lennox? I am leaning towards Bowe, giving

him the slight edge.

In 93 I agree Bowe Is favourite, but Lewis wasn't the fighter he would go on to become then. Prime for prime I think it's a 50/50 fight and an extremely interesting match up.

I used to follow the conventional wisdom that Bowe would've beaten the 92-93 version of Lewis and lost to the 98 version. Now I think Lewis probably would've beaten him in either incarnation.

dempseyfire wrote:I used to follow the conventional wisdom that Bowe would've beaten the 92-93 version of Lewis and lost to the 98 version. Now I think Lewis probably would've beaten him in either incarnation.

x2

Best night vs best night.....similar to prime vs prime. It's Bowe. But only for that nanosecond.

It's funny, the hypothetical "prime" (whatever that is) can favor a candidate who's overall performance is far shy of the person who's "distilled best" would probably bring him success at that moment. But a champion's TIME is a primary factor of his overall efficacy. Lennox maintained his mastery for a much longer period of time....so he would far more "dates" on the calendar where he would probably easily win. There are far fewer "ticks of the clock" that would favor Bowe.

I've often wondered in this sport just how many potential "greats" were cut short before they were ever able to demonstrate their best. This for a myriad of reasons. Bowe had to have been neurologically affected by a few of his fights which simply deflated him. How many contenders would have gone on to greater heights if not for a single punch or beating that put them out of top tier forever. Sanchez's untimely death, Ike Ibeabuchi's imprisonment...(ok maybe just kidding there) but you know where I"m going with this.

I'd slightly favour Bowe to stop Lewis in 1993. Lewis stops Bowe any year afterwards.

One major factor is Lewis's favour is Bowe's terrible defence and lack of ring experience with big punchers. He was able to take flush shots over the distance from Holyfield, but I can't see him doing the same with Lewis - either he stops him early or is stopped himself, sooner or later.

STOP REPLYING TO BNOV THREADS GENUINELY AND HE WILL GO AWAY

STOP FEEDING THE TROLL

In this case the question seemed harmless enough.

BoxBuzz wrote:In this case the question seemed harmless enough.

Agreed, this isn't typical bnovelist nonsense like his Canelo and Cotto threads.

I agree, it's a legit question, though it has been discussed many times previously. The sport missed out greatly that this fight never happened.

danconnollyeire wrote:STOP REPLYING TO BNOV THREADS GENUINELY AND HE WILL GO AWAY

STOP FEEDING THE TROLL

Use your inside voice, regardless of who started it, it's a fine thread.

In 93, I really don't know. I am tempted to go with Lewis anyway, but I could see Bowe getting to him at some point.

Prime for prime, Lewis all day.

Bowe had not much defence for a top fighter. As long as his opponents wanted to trade with him (like Holy I) it did not matter much, but just look what Golota did to him (and I do not buy the story of Bowe suddenly degrading from being in his prime to completely shot in a couple of months... sure, his eating habits and undertraining may be also factors, but IMO the styles difference is much more important here).

gregor wrote:Bowe had not much defence for a top fighter. As long as his opponents wanted to trade with him (like Holy I) it did not matter much, but just look what Golota did to him (and I do not buy the story of Bowe suddenly degrading from being in his prime to completely shot in a couple of months... sure, his eating habits and undertraining may be also factors, but IMO the styles difference is much more important here).

93 Bowe doesn't perform like that v. Golota. Just listen to his speech after Golota II compared to Holy I. (HBO showed it on Legendary Nights about a decade ago when it featured the two Bowe/Golota fights.)

While I'm taking LL, I don't think it would be a blow-out like the 88 Olympic final.

Rover wrote:While I'm taking LL, I don't think it would be a blow-out like the 88 Olympic final.

Yes, it would.