Riddick Bowe - Why Did He Not Face Lewis?

Ha, you talking about Lewis or his manager, Maloney?

 

He knew he'd get beaten like a ginger stepchild

 

That's an interesting thought. Bowe kind of got stomped against Golota and Lewis didn't win as consummately as some people thought he should against Mercer (especially since this was after old man Holmes soundly decisioned Ray).

 

In 96, I'd pick Lewis with real confidence but only knowing what I know now, ie how bad Bowe was vs Golota in 96, that the vulnerability shown in 95 in Holyfield 3 was no aberration and that the decline was irreversible.

Up to that point, I'd probably favour Bowe who set a higher tempo. Lennox could be outjabbed; see the Bruno, Mercer fights and didn't take too kindly to body attacks. Bowe excelled in both areas.

I disagree though with those saying Bowe in 2, quicker than McCall. A) Lewis would never be that lackadaisical v Bowe and B) Riddick didn't have that kind of one punch dig. He wouldn't be coming underneath Lewis blindsiding him like the two shorter guys - McCall and Rahman - did, either. Bowe's big right was looped over and wouldn't land on the sweet spot.. His only hope of reaching the underside of Lewis' jaw would have been the uppercut and Lennox was too tall and too upright for that. If either guy gets one-shotted, it would be Bowe who'd be facing the bigger, straighter puncher.

That may actually be Lennox's best chance from 93 -95, in a replica of the Bruno fight where he is being outworked slightly, a bit behind on points and getting worn down and then turns it round with a boomer. Even though he came in a bit heavy after 92, Bowe had excellent stamina and workrate when it was called upon whereas I always felt that Lennox could get a bit fatigued.

Had it happened in early 93, at the time I'd have picked Lewis though. That was before the rather indifferent run of form from Tucker through to McCall. I thought his performance against Ruddock was awesome. I'd seen Ruddock as the dangerman in that quartet of Bowe, Lewis, Holy and the Razor so Lennox's blowout was shockingly impressive. And we hadn't realised just what a great fighter Bowe had beaten in Holyfield so I didn't blame Newman for avoiding him. But Lennox really stalled at that point.

Anyway, long story short. Shame it never happened as we will never know for sure. The Olympics fight tells us very little. But it would have been a heavyweight title fight worthy of the occasion and would have hugely elevated both fighters' recognition, win, lose or draw.

 

Completely agree about the Olympics. But Bowe showed his one-punch power, check out the shot he ko'd Rodriguez with, or the shots that befell poor Michael Dokes.

To me, had the fight happened in 1993...Bowe would have landed the big one in less than five. Lewis wasn't matured yet, in fact I'd say Bowe matured way faster than LL. The problem is, Bowe's maturity lasted...what, one fight? Not sure to count the Ferguson and Dokes fights as being mature. Dokes had already had his head kicked in a couple of times before the fight.

 

Because Lewis stopped him as a amatuer, and he was frightened, and because Newman steered him away from big punchers.

 

I always thought someone felt he could not beat Lennox. Lennox had so much confidence around Bowe always. He really did not think too highly of Bowe in my estimation. You could feel that, and I am sure Bowe and that guy who was always causing problems for him. What was his name. Some clownish guy who always seemed to cause melees. Once put one of Bowe's opponents in a headlock after the fight. A really out of line guy. Well Bowe and that fellow, one of them didn't want Lennox. Lennox was just as big and beat him the amateurs and had that right hand which Bowe would have to take to win.

 

Watch their Olympic bout again. Terrible stoppage. Bowe was kicking his ass in the 1st just as much as Lewis was kicking Bowe's ass in the 2nd. That referee should've never worked again.

If you want to refer to Olympians and Olympic gold medalists beating their rival in the ams and thinking they'd do the same in the pros, look no further than Henry Tillman beating Tyson twice in the ams, or Tyrell Biggs beating both Lennox Lewis and Francesco Damiani in the Olympics, or Jorge Luis Gonzales beating both Bowe and Lewis in the ams.

 

I definitely thought Bowe looked more polished back then. Lewis looked kind of sloppy in those 1993-94 defenses, such as the way he winged that overhand right and would leave himself open. Manny Steward helped Oliver McCall exploit that.

But Bowe had such a leaky defense on the outside. I remember Gil Clancy doing commentary and talking about Bowe slipping punches on the inside. He seemed he may have been more defensively responsible on the inside than the outside. I could see Lewis landing that big right hand from the outside, and that beating too much for Bowe to handle.

 

If there were anything to this at all, then Bowe would not have been afraid to fight him.

Forest and trees.

 

ROFLMAO !! what are you on ??? Bowe ruined it for himself
He was on a high after beating Vander & in the best shape of his career. THEN was the only time Bowe stood a chance against Lennox They renaged on the agree deal The rest is history. Eddie Papa Smurf Futch was a great trainer If Bowe wasnt prepared to do it for him he wouldnt do it for anyone.
I really do wish Bowe hadnt ducked out & fought Lennox we wouldnt be haing these arguments today if the had

 

Vander only says that just because Lennox really beat HIS ass TWICE!!!!

 

This thoroughly confirms what I suspected: politics were the ruin of Bowe/Lewis, not some kind of imagined fear.