Why did Bowe fight Ferguson and Dokes?

Yeah, can't argue with that performance. Bowe looked incredible.
People say Ray Mercer was a pretty good fighter and Bowe's win over Ferguson is smack between the two competitive Mercer fights (W10 and L10 for Jesse).
Ferguson was in shape for Bowe too, rather than his how he often came to his fights (for example, as in his fight with Bruno the following year).

 

Easy money little risk. Personally I dont blame him for taking a couple of easy fights after the Holyfield war.

Btw he would have fought Mercer instead of Ferguson but Ray blew it by losing to Ferguson. It was actually nice to see Jesse get the title shot. Usually when an unranked guy spoils a title shot for a high ranked guy he doesnt get to replace him

I attended the Bowe-Ferguson card which cost me $100 for a (lower part of) upper deck seat. At the time I felt gipped but after seeing Jones and Hopkins have stellar careers it is kinda cool I saw their prime fight although it was pretty boring as Jones dominated Hopkins.

 

and before the next Holyfield war

 

Easy he was ducking Lennox Lewis

 

Bowe & Newman signed an agreement Bowe was to meet Holyfield & Lewis was to fight Ruddock & then the two winners were to meet to decide who the REAL world champ was. When Newman saw what Lennox did to Ruddock, He DESTROYED him, Lennox was the last man Rock was going to let Bowe face. So they just renaged on the agreement like cowards

 

You could see the crack smoke wafting off Dokes during his ring entrance.

 

I would have honored the agreement I signed To fight Lennox Lewis not cowardly renage on the agreement

 

Weirdly, Newman shifted gears around the time of Holyfield/Bowe III and offered Lewis a ton of money for a match with Bowe, which Lewis turned down. And Lewis for sure would have beat him then.

I seriously doubt Lewis had a chance against 1992 Bowe. Lewis became top ten ATG years after imo.

 

The IBF refused to sanction Bowe v Ferguson as the governing body did not have Ferguson in their rankings & refused to allow Bowe to defend their title against him, as for Dokes, he had been washed up for several years & was considered an easy payday.

 

Bowe also signed a huge contract with HBO/Time Warner after the first Holyfield fight. I think Bowe and Newman just figured they would make a lot of money on soft touches, or perceived soft touches (like a Holyfield rematch), before finally facing a riskier fight in Lennox. There was also Tyson scheduled to get out of prison in 95’ so that would have been a megafight.

 

Cos it was easier and safer than fighting Lennox the lion..

 

It depends what you mean by defending. Is it admirable of them? No, not really. Were they suspect fights though? No, not really.

 

Other champs (Frazier comes to mind immediately) did this: take a couple of easier opponents after the mega-war. No biggie.

Problem is, he should have either given Holyfield a rematch or kicked Newman to the curb. The Lewis fight is what everyone wanted, Bowe was a dunderhead for listening to his terrible advice and dumping that belt. I blame Newman mostly, but Bowe didn't have to do what he said.