Riddick Bowe - Why Did He Not Face Lewis?

I refute it, and the video shared earlier (regarding the politics) is more than enough proof for me. Bowe would have beat him that year.

But hey, all respect to others' opinions. I agree to disagree.

 

Bowe didn't want it.

 

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Evander Holyfield tells it like it was.

 

Complete and utter bollox. . The politics was in initiated by Lewis and ONLY Lewis.

Lewis refused the mandatory purse split , called it "slap in the face money" - politics
Lewis bribed Newman for a better deal using Don Kings offer to fight Tony Tucker for $9M -politics

The Kings of corrupt politics back then were Don King and the WBC. . He played the political game and with thir help was able to relenquish the title from Bowe and fight fot it against Tony Tuckers ghost for 9 million dollars.
Thats is 5 million more than what he would have made fighting Riddick Bowe in a fight he would have lost.

If you don't think that was was all pre-planned and organized , than you are just a delusional fanboy.

To give Lewis credit , he was a smart business man and knew how to play the game far better than Bowe. He knew exactly what he was doing in by dragging his feet and turning down offers. It would all work out for him and he knew it since Rock Newman was an outsider and had no clout with any of the organizations or fellow promoters.

Back then Don King was practically the head of the WBC and i have posted many links proving it

Furthermore regarding that ringside encounter. Lewis was the one stuttering and repeating the same line over and over.. Its very clear Bowe bossed that encounter. You only see what you want to see.

 

Lewis would not have played hardball if he really wanted the fight. He played a game of politics with the help of Don King which would see him fight for the vacant belt against a washed up Tony Tucker for 9 MILLION Dollars.
He played the game , he knew exactly what he as doing.

Lewis was guaranteed the same $3m as Bowe. Potentially more depending on buy rate.

He refused , calling it - slap in the face money

 

Lewis had the shot and was guaranteed a good pay day , but he wanted more. He deserves blame for playing a game of politics making negotiations very difficult.

Factor in the presence of Don King in the background who wanted to block the fight for his own gain.

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We know that in the end Don King got his way.

It also well known that he and Jose Sulaiman were practically partners.

Bob Arum claimed in deposition testimony that - "

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When Evander Holyfield was asked at deposition why he thought the WBC wanted him to fight Razor Ruddock rather than Riddick Bowe he testified - "

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Don King clearly did not want Rock Newman to have possession of the titles and obviously pulled strings behind the scenes to make sure it didn't happen.
They made sure Newman would drop the belt by making unreasonable demands and setting deadlines. Lewis made a ridiculous amount of money to fight Tucker , he got a better deal from King and went with it.

 

I don't think Bowe & his team fancied it, when you have a win over a fighter you hold a psychological advantage over them & i think they considered it too risky, especially when they could make a similar amount of money facing Dokes & Ferguson for less risk.
Shame as Bowe was a more complete fighter than Lewis on & around that period and could have beaten him, shame none of them seemed to believe it.

 

Absolutely, Holy would say Bowe was better as he holds a victory over him & never accepted his loss to Lewis.

 

My thinking was he knew he was going to have to take that right hand and Lewis had the style to beat him and he didn't want that kind of fight. What we all sort of think.

 

eddie papa smurf futch was known to say Bowe shouldn't fight Lewis because BOWE CANNOT BEAT HIM !!

 

Newman screwed him over, and Bowe was dumb enough to follow his advice.

Just the way I see it. Newman was a terrible manager, Bowe would definitely have fought Lewis if not for him.

 

They both avoided each other. Lewis ego was his enemy as much as his chin was. I'd pick Lewis but I don't know for sure. It would a great night for boxing had these two fought.

 

Popeyes and Bojangles

 

Bowe did everything better than Lewis but he was Lazy.
Newman I believe advised Bowe correctly. Most promoters have their fighters ride the wave of winning the championship and
make money fighting lesser opponents. Floyd Mayweather made a career out of it. He only fought a dangerous opponent when he absolutely had to .
I think Bowe would have eventually fought Lewis but he ran into Golota. Those fights with Golota ruined Riddick Bowe. By that time he had made enough money where he had no motivation to stay in the gym.

 

Newman was already laying the ground to renege on the agreement, made with the WBC, the day after Bowe won the titles. He started slating the organization; accusing them of corruption etc etc. All good points, but hardly accusations exclusive to just the WBC.

The initial offer to Lewis was a paltry $3 million - actually just under 10% of the purse.
A second offer meant paying Lewis less than $3 million; having him give up his right to the WBC title; placing Lewis on a Bowe undercard and setting up a Bowe/Lewis clash at some future, unspecified date.

Yeah - I can see why the fight didn't happen and it has little to do with the Lewis team.