Lewis Says Bowe's Management to Blame for Fight Not Happening

I can answer that one.

Lewis - Bowe was finally meant to go ahead in early '96. For once genuine negotiations had gone ahead and both sides were happy with the date, location and money. This time though something else happened.

Dan Duva of Main Events was Lewis's promoter in the US. He sadly died in early '96 of a brain tumour. His brother Dino Duva replaced him, and what he wanted to do rather than Lewis - Bowe was Golota - Bowe.

Golota was managed and trained by his dad Lou Duva, who was internally pushing hard for him. With Dino now in charge, Main Events basically convinced Bowe & Newman that Golota would be a much more worthwhile opponent for him to face.

Newman agreed, Lewis was pushed out and Golota got his spot.
Straightforward as that.

In retrospect a fight with Lewis would've been a whole lot better for Bowe in 1996. At least a loss would've been clean and simple. Not the torturous extended battering he got from Golota.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNp12msEWqU

 

There is no doubt that Bowe's management avoided Lewis when Bowe was champion. Bowe was stripped of a belt. Fans remember Bowe placing the belt in the garbage.

Lewis is honest when the truth is on his side. In defeat, he was in denial. Lewis also dropped belts himself to face Grant and Tyson, and gave up belts to the likes of Ruiz and Byrd. I don't think think that Lewis was would lose to either Byrd or Ruiz, but they could make him look bad.

I still think Lewis is an ATG. The hall of fame is a better place with him in it.

 

Lewis would batter Ruiz within 3. Byrd would be much more awkward however.

 

I think you mean rabid.

 

I think Bowe & Lewis never fought because Newman didn't want to possibly lose his cash cow. Maybe there were other reasons.

Maybe fighters duck other fighters because they a high risk / low reward.

Not because Bowe was scared.

This is a business.


BTW I am so sick of is stupid armchair warriors saying 'x is afraid of y'.

 

The man speaks the truth.

 

What unprovable allegations?
Bowe ducked Lewis. What ever the reason...management, money, timing...whatever. Bowe made a decision not to fight...or worse, let others make the decision for him. Sure, they were hoping to make the fight at a later date...but that didn't happen. You have to live with your decisions, good or bad. And Bowe chose not to fight Lewis.
All boxers make decisions to manage their careers. This decision, as seen after the fact, wasn't the correct one. What Lewis said does not change this.

 

Yes Mr Newman sir, No Mr Newman sir, Three bags full Mr Newman sir, I mean seriously. It was a massive cash generator and for what ever reason they wanted no piece of it. The business side of things made perfect sense.

Not fighting a fighter when it makes perfect business sense and you're still in pretty good shape = duck, whatever way you spin it.

 

Lewis didn't fear Ruiz or Byrd, Bowe feared Lewis, fear might be strong but if Bowe really wanted the fight, and a **** load of cash to boot he would have demanded the fight happened, he didn't.

:smoke

 

Regardless of who is to blame, we all missed out on perhaps the defining fight of that generation.