Bowe-Lewis 1988 premature stoppage or not?

Absolutely premature. Add here that Bowe was in far, FAR hardrer situations in Holyfield and Golota fights but came on top...Awful stoppage

 

I hate this stoppage. The gold medal in the Olympics which back then meant something was on the line. While Lewis was in the lead, Bowe was not out of it. Things were heating up.

 

Bowe was finished. He was out on his feet.

 

This was clearly an early stoppage.

 

No, he wasn't . Not even close

Bowe was knocked down and hurt much more against:

- Holyfield (3rd fight)
- Golota (round 2 and round 5 of the rematch)
- Jorge Luis Gonzalez (amateur fight)

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In each of this cases he finished the fights on his legs despite being hurt MUCH more than in Lewis fight. Bullsh1t stoppage

 

I don't think amateur standards for stoppages should be the same as professional ones.

 

It's amateur boxing, the standards for stoppages are far different. If a boxer is stunned on shakey legs in the amateurs, they stop it. Lennox got him stunned twice.

 

The quality on this version is better. Still, the stoppage was really bad, Lennox stunned him but there were way worse beatings during that tournament in fights that weren't stopped, even for amateur boxing standards, it was bad, you can see that Bowe was still on it. I still think Lewis would have won tho.

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Look it from the refs perspective though. The first time Bowe is clearly stunned. Second time he looks like he doesn't know where he is. The ref is in boxing to protect a boxer from himself. And in amateur boxing they should stop quicker. It isn't a world title or profession at stake, it's amateurs

 

I mean, on his previous fight Bowe was as hurt by Miroschenko, he actually went down and still won. I'm not that hard on the ref, I don't think is the worst stoppage ever and Lewis is the deserved Olympic Champion but I think Bowe deserved a chance.

 

His eyes were glazed over, he could barely stand.

 

If Bowe had won the third , he would have won the Gold. He was robbed. A total disgrace!

 

If it was a pro fight yes premature. Amateur ehh could go either way. I get it a bout for gold medal should be given slightly more leeway