No, though Vitali is more than arguable, Lewis was past it by that time. Both Tyson and Holy were way past it against Lennox.
Yeah, Vitali took the fight on short notice was pre prime and punched Lewis around. Prime Bowe would have abused that version of Lewis.
Probably the best heavyweight fight of the 90s. Provided Lennox does n't hang his chin out,he decisions Bowe. Lewis the more skilful fighter.
Whats the best fighter Lewis beat ? The shot Tyson impersonator or Senior citizen Holyfield ? Who was twice one shotted by absolute Palookas ? Who went 24 boring rounds with Oldyfield who in his very next fight could not get a handle on the Fraud Ruiz because he was so washed up ? Who are those "big" punchers Bowe avoided............both Rahman and McCall are not big punchers and are only known for landing on Lewis's glass............trial horse Mercer never beat anybody of note except the guy you hate, Tommy Chin, so that does not count and was scheduled to face Bowe but could not even get by Ferguson.................Ruddock was finished when Bowe matured. Golata, lol, the Polish mental midget quit twice and Bowe still won, no low blows and Golata quits or goes to sleep, fact. Bowe beat a PRIME Holyfield from pillar to post and almost stopped him, without the fan man and his wife collapsing ringside Holyfield looses the second one too and got stopped face down and out in the third.................. In 1992 Lewis had awful balance, a pawing jab with a telegraphed right hand behind.................combine that with a very questionable jaw that spells absolute disaster against prime Bowe who could fight at range and was a beast upclose and was never ever stopped even when totally washed up..................the proof is in the pudding, Lewis goes down and stays down, never recovered from a knock down..........
Difficult one, by 96' i would have favoured Lewis quite comfortably but 93' we saw prime Bowe & as brief as it was, i believe he would have come through a stern test to stop the still green Lewis, probably inside 9 rounds, his inside fight & natural talent would have seen him through but i won't discount Lewis as he always won the big fights & may well have done so on this occasion.
I think many of us don't realize that these two legendary champions have never been truly proven. Bowe never fought an outstanding outfighter like Holmes or Lewis, and he didn't look good against very good ones - old Tubbs and Golota. On the other hand, did Lennox beat a slugger like Bowe? with Briggs and Bruno he looked weak and Bowe is in a higher league. In my opinion, in 1993 Riddick would have beaten Lennox and I think he would have beaten anyone else in the form he was in at the time.
It’s a hard one because while I consider Bowe plainly superior to Lewis around 92-93, he was also seemingly (though we can’t totally know for certain) petrified of him. I’m not sure who to pick in a fight where I think one guy is plainly better but doesn’t believe he is…
I do. I have always liked Bowe but feel Lewis was always a bit bigger stronger, far better conditioned, far smarter, more disciplined and focused ... Both could be hurt but Lewis was tighter defensively and a even bigger puncher .. I know all the doubt talk about the alaphabet headaches but at the end of the day Team Bowe didn't want Lennox Lewis, period. Lewis would have fought him at any time conditions were marginally sound. Team Bowe had a reason not to fight Lennox. Period.
Lewis lost to McCall because of flaws in his technique that were exploited. His position at the time of sleepage was a result of over extending and bad feet work. 93 Lewis was raw and beatable. Bowe's excellence didn't last long. He was a more complete fighter in 93 and had a much better trainer ans strategist in his corner. Bowe mid to late round stoppage victory