I always felt Lewis had the mental edge over Bowe after crushing him in the amateurs, but Bowe improved markedly as a pro. Would Lennox have steamrollered Bowe or could Riddick gain revenge?
I actually think that Bowe would have stopped Lewis in the pros. I agree that Bowe improved much more than Lewis ever did in the pro ranks. (Better infighter, and much better, crisper jab than that pawing Lewis jab). Bowe also had a better chin than Lewis. Lewis too cautious to go right at Bowe. And once Bowe got going and had confidence, I think he stops Lewis in mid rounds. Too bad bowe was so mentally weak that he never made this fight happen. Had he beaten Lewis instead of dumping the belt like a coward, his legacy would have been light years better.
Depends upon when they'd have met. Prior to Lennox's loss to Oliver McCall in their first fight,I'd select Bowe for reasons mentioned above. After 1995,my money would have gone on Lewis because of his improvement under the tutelage of Emmanuel Steward and Bowe's decline.
Before Lewis got Steward I'd give the edge to Bowe. Afterward, it could go either way but I'd give an edge to Lewis with Steward in his corner from 94 on, especially after 96 when Eddie Futch left Bowe. That loss at the Olympics was a straight robbery. Bowe was covering up from a Lewis flurry, but he wasn't hurt or wobbled. It looked like he was planning to weather the storm for a second and then come back at Lewis in like fashion and be a really terrific fight. Some refs are just too quick to call a fight.
Lewis inside the distance. In '88 Bowe didn't look like he fancied carrying on against Lewis and I think Lewis had a psychological domination over Bowe that carried on into the pros...why else would Bowe have given up a portion of his hard earned title? I think he really did not want to fight Lewis...If he had wanted to, he could have defended against him. I cannot for the life of me understand why Bowe would give up his belt, unless he genuinely didn't want to fight Lewis. I think it should be remembered that this was not long after Lewis had annihilated Ruddock and before McCall 1, Lewis looked devastating at this point. I don't think Bowe wanted to run the risk of a second helping of Seoul 88. People can talk all they want about styles, who had the better chin & the best uppercut etc, but sometimes in sport at the highest level the outcome is often decided in the space between the ears, I think that this is the case here.
I think Lewis wins any time after the first Holyfield match. Bowe's defense just wasn't there, and he knows Lewis had the power to hurt him. See their amateur match.
Anybody else surprised the first time they saw the Olympic bout between Lewis and Bowe.I mean Lewis won, he didn't crush Bowe. Pros are a different story. Bowe had progressed and developed under Eddie Futch to the point that Bowe had better technique, chin, and composure. Theres supposed eveidence that Bowe was scared in the pros, and vice versa that Lennox was scared. Chalk it up to politics. Anyway I favor and pick Bowe KO 8. Once Bowe got confident and poured it on its lights out. Lewis didn't have the chin or ring IQ to survive.
I think Lewis would have knocked him out, Bowe was scared of him that's he he threw the belt in the trash like a coward... Bowe had 1 great night when he beat Holyfield, then got lazy, fat and after the Goloata fights, started sounding like he had brain damage, not that he was very bright to begin with.. Lewis was a better all around fighter...
I will be honest, at the time I would have picked Bowe ...but I would have lost money. Lewis was better and always would have won and I tell you for why. Lewis always won his key fights big. Mason, Ruddock, Grant, Briggs, Golota. Lewis saw these as key fights and he would be even more keyed up for Bowe too. Lewis was a real powerhouse when it mattered. I used to think Bowes better technique would have seen him through but it never stopped him getting hit and aside from Golotta there is not much examples of him handling another prime fighter with the same height and reach as himself. Lewis has these examples. The most telling was beating Tucker. I never realised it at the time but here he beat another big tall prime fighter who had never been decked and Lewis put him down twice.
Such a high profile fight like that not getting made can only mean both parties were to blame, not just Bowe- although Newman was the instigator. On the other hand there is enough evidence beyond that to prove Bowe and Newman wanted the fight all along and in reality they were being shafted with a ridiculous contract from King. Lewis hadn't even a name for himself at the time so it makes no sense why they would be afraid. Bowe was just an inexperienced 17 year old boy in the ams
Lewis went on and fought Tucker 7 years past prime and out of rehab instead of a training camp. Lewis looked like a clown for parts of that fight and Fuch knew for certain that Bowe would of beaten him. Bowe from that time wins hands down. You have to take the Fuch-less , lazy Bowe years later to give Lewis a chance.
