Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis were supposed to fight in 1994.

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021.


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  1. Stiches Yarn

    Stiches Yarn Active Member Full Member

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    The New York Times june 18, 1994.
    "Bowe and Lewis fight is on"
    Riddick Bowe, described as "ecstatic" and thanking his manager profusely, yesterday agreed to fight Lennox Lewis, the man who defeated him in the Olympics and then literally lifted out of the garbage can the heavyweight belt Bowe had tossed away.

    The pair signed to meet for either next March or April, with Lewis's World Boxing Council title at stake. That title once belonged to Bowe, but he discarded the belt in a garbage can in London -- refusing to face Lewis -- shortly after winning the unified crown in November 1992, from Evander Holyfield. Last November, Holyfield regained the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Association title from Bowe

    Michael Moorer defeated Holyfield in April for those two crowns.

    Speaking from London yesterday, Rock Newman, Bowe's manager, said he had outbid Moorer to meet Lewis. The often-hyperbolic Newman claimed this would be the biggest-grossing fight in history, with Lewis earning $18 million to Bowe's $13 million.

    Bowe suffered a knockout, on his feet, by Lewis in the 1988 Olympics. But he was undefeated as a pro until he lost a decision last year to Holyfield. Lewis is unbeaten but has been unimpressive in recent fights."
    Sadly, Lewis' planned superfight with Bowe was cancelled after the lion suddenly lost to Oliver McCall.
     
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
    #1
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  2. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You can't overlook anyone at heavyweight. Seems like they all have to learn that the hard way.
     
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
    Dubblechin, Jan 18, 2021
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  3. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

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    I always figured they eventually would have fought if they kept winning, but they didn't.

    Bowe got a big deal with HBO to get a whole lot of money facing easy opposition. Lennox was not easy opposition. He was a big puncher who had defeated Riddick in the Olympics.

    Bowe got a lot of money to face the likes of an aged Michael Dokes, Jesse Ferguson, and a supposedly shopworn Holyfield in a rematch. Lewis wasn't an easy fight like these opponents were (or were supposed to be). Bowe/Newman wanted to milk it for all it was worth. There was also some beef between Newman and the WBC.

    Then after Bowe lost the rematch with Evander, a fight for Lewis's WBC belt fell through when McCall beat Lewis.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...reement/8baecd6e-582e-48af-95fb-545f566b08ac/

    Roy Jones would also get a similar deal with HBO that got criticized years later.
     
    Thread Stealer, Jan 18, 2021
    Thread Stealer, Jan 18, 2021
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  4. C.J.

    C.J. Boxings Living Legend revered & respected by all Full Member

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    Absolute bull feces!! Lewis & Bowe agreed to meet after Lewis ko'd Razor Ruddock & Bowe beat Evander Holyfield. It was Newman that renaged on that agreement when he saw how Lennox demolished Ruddock
    they backed out
    i met Bowe & Newman in Dallas not long after & Newman was parading
    around saying come meet the world Heavyweight Champ. I'd had a few beers & replied " Bowe isnt the champion till he's beaten Lennox Lewis"
    All Newman did was hold up Bowes belt & say " But we've got this havent we". I replied " Only because you chickened out of the Lewis fight" Bowe just walked away. Newman said after " why should we risk it all against Lewis when we could have Dokes & Ferguson with much less risk"
    At teast Newman was honest for once. It was well known that Eddie Papa Smurf Futch didnt want to fight Lennox also because he knew Bowe couldnt beat him
     
    C.J., Jan 18, 2021
    C.J., Jan 18, 2021
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  5. Stiches Yarn

    Stiches Yarn Active Member Full Member

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    https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/18/sports/bowe-and-lewis-fight-is-on.html
     
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
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  6. Fuzzykat

    Fuzzykat Member Full Member

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    I don't think Bowe would have fared well against Lewis.
     
    Fuzzykat, Jan 18, 2021
    Fuzzykat, Jan 18, 2021
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  7. fistfighter

    fistfighter 44-3-1 (42KO's) Full Member

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    It is one of the fights I truly regret never happened. Would have been great regardless of the result. With their histories, they seemed destined to clash... but they didn't.

    Could have been a big event.
     
    fistfighter, Jan 18, 2021
    fistfighter, Jan 18, 2021
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  8. Stiches Yarn

    Stiches Yarn Active Member Full Member

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    I think this fight boils down to who can avoid the other guy’s KO punch better. I think the evidence would suggest Lewis with his 3 inch advantage accomplishes this task better than bowe. Therefore , I would go for Lewis on points, after surviving some roller coaster moments.
     
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
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  9. Rise Above

    Rise Above IBHOF elector Full Member

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    I think I recall seeing a video online recently of Bowe and Holyfield hanging out. As most former greats do, they were talking about who was the better fighter and Holyfield told Bowe he was scared to fight Lewis lol.
     
    Rise Above, Jan 18, 2021
    Rise Above, Jan 18, 2021
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  10. On The Money

    On The Money Dangerous Journeyman Full Member

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    Rock Orson Wells Newman knew Bowe's limitations which is why the only marquee name he faced was a cruiser.
     
    On The Money, Jan 18, 2021
    On The Money, Jan 18, 2021
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  11. Stiches Yarn

    Stiches Yarn Active Member Full Member

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    Evander Holyfield goes off on riddick bowe for ducking Lennox Lewis? LOL how did you understand them?
     
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
    Stiches Yarn, Jan 18, 2021
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  12. Rise Above

    Rise Above IBHOF elector Full Member

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    With great difficulty! Bowe's speech is terrible.
     
    Rise Above, Jan 18, 2021
    Rise Above, Jan 18, 2021
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  13. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bowe and Newman didn't either.......
     
    Reinhardt, Jan 19, 2021
    Reinhardt, Jan 19, 2021
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  14. joeyp130

    joeyp130 Active Member Full Member

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    I have always felt if they would have fought when they were supposed to have fought, Bowe would have gotten Lewis out of there. It boils down to one thing--Lewis was not with Stewart at that time to teach him how to fight big.
     
    joeyp130, Jan 25, 2021
    joeyp130, Jan 25, 2021
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  15. Brighton bomber

    Brighton bomber Loyal Member Full Member

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    Notice how when Lewis was champion he offered Bowe with no titles a 60/40 split instead of low balling Bowe with 10% like Bowe and Newman did when they had the titles.

    One side wanted the fight and believed they would win the other had serious doubts and so ducked the fight by making a ridiculously low offer.
     
    Brighton bomber, Jan 26, 2021
    Brighton bomber, Jan 26, 2021
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