Bowe vs. Lewis never happened but I often wonder..

Eddie Futch did not want that fight.If Bowe had the same discipline as Lewis he could have been as great,imo

 

.....uh. no.

In 1993 he fought past his prime Tony Tucker and chinny retread Frank Bruno.
He was forced to go the full 12 rounds with Tucker and won 116-112 or 117-111.
He struggled with Bruno and was behind on points before finally stopping him. Bruno was highly competitive.

Then he was sparked by McCall in 1994.

Lewis did not have the safety first style he incorporated later under Emanuel Steward. Steward taught him how to use his height, reach and strength to tie up, jab and circle.

In 1992-1994 Lewis was easy to hit and hurt.

This would be a war. Bowe had the jab and ability to throw great right hands and combos

He had a lot of power in the right hand.

Lewis had power in the right hand and a pretty good jab

Both would land but Bowe was used to fire fights and battle hardened.

It's not a guarantee Bowe wins as Lewis could possibly land something big first and get him out of there. But there's the same possiblility Bowe gets him first.

It would have been a great fight and somebody would have been knocked out.

It's a pickem fight

 

past prime 6'5 Tucker went the full 12 rounds with Lennox in 1993, the time period of this proposed matchup.

 

Tucker went into a shell against Lennox and Tyson, that's an irrelevance

You say Bowe 'had the jab', Lennox had a way better jab and was way quicker and more athletic. Bowe's right hand was a wide overhand, Lennox could throw that or the much quicker straight right.

You said Bowe was more battle hardened. He did have a war against Holyfield and he was a warrior. But that doesn't mean Bowe could take on all types of styles, which he certainly struggled with certain styles.

I think Lennox lateral movement was at it's best against Rudduck. As is his timing and counter punching. The Rudduck win was really earth shattering in the message it sent out.

I do agree with you that Bowe put his punches together at close to mid range but I really don't think the fight comes there often enough before he gets smashed on the way in

I'd generally agree with you that 1 of them would of been KO'd though. But who knows, maybe we're both off base and we'd get a great 12 round war.

 

One thing is fire sure,Bowe would have fared better vs pre Steward Lewis than post Steward.

That said he had one chance and dumped the belt.And he lost the Olympic finalaswell.

 

We really need a doesn't-warrant-its-own-thread sticky'd on Classic, this reminds me. The other night, I was trying to find a song from a singer named Eddy Raven and was on his Wikipedia page and found out his birth name is Edward Futch. The hell am I supposed to do with that? I can't keep it locked in my jejunum. So, I'm telling you now. That way, this information will not die with me.

 

It's also worth noting that Lewis tore a tendon in his hand vs Tucker in which he needed surgery on and it took like 6 weeks to recover.

Also you mention the 116-112 card which was flattering for Tucker in all honesty.

But don't mention the 118-111 card which is more in line with most people saw.

Tucker was very durable and wasn't the easier fighter to stop either especially with a bad hand injury.

Bruno outside of Tyson always got off to a good start vs every other opponent he ever fought.

Did Bowe ever fight a big guy like Bruno who had KO power and a very good jab ?

Bruno would probably give Bowe all he could handle aswell.

Also you say the early version of Lewis had defensive problems but so did Bowe and then some.

The difference was Lewis was facing big hitters with KO power like Mason, Ruddock, Bruno.

Bowe wasn't.

 

People often emphasize Lewis's long maturation and how he was influenced by Emanuel Stewart, but realistically (mainly due to Bowe's career development) the best that could have happened was a fight like this:

Bowe (around the first fight with Holyfield) vs Lewis (around Ruddock fight)

or
Bowe (J.L.Gonzales fight) vs Lewis (Butler fight)

both very interesting and I think Bowe wins both fights.

 

In 1992\93 Bowe had his revenge, and as more time passed, the chances were less and less.
Not only that (I MAY BE WRONG, so please correct me), I suspect something bigger

Bowe fought two wars with Golota, and lost both BY POINTS, then saw Lewis destroy Golota, then retired

 

Bowe would handle the robotic, stiff Lewis by tko. this time, Lewis wouldnt have a corrupt politically owned referee to save him

 

In 92-93 , I'd give it to Bowe.
Even tho Lewis had his first loss in 1994 , I'd still make him favourite over Bowe that year.

 

Bowe had doubts he could beat Lewis. That doesn't mean he couldn't have though. I think Riddick needed his people to support him not with words but accepting the fight.
Yes Lennox was a dangerous man. Bowe also had the size and talent to beat anyone if he makes the commitment. It would have been a fascinating event Circa 1993.
I would expect Bowe would have trained like he never had before.. he got Eddie Futch looking at the Pepe Cararra trained Lewis. Who knows what gameplan he maps out.

The only thing certain is boxing fans got robbed out of maybe the best matchup in heavyweight history.

 

Lewis beat him in amateurs but Bowe looked good in 1st round then in 2nd got hit hard twice 1st ref forced standing 8 then 2nd ref stopped the fight. So hard to say from that who was better. As pro seemed to me Bowe was avoiding Lewis but was always talking very disrespectfully about Lewis if you remember he called him ‘the Bueatitician’.

 

He was a bonehead for listening to Newman.

 

1-2 rounds?

Really?


He had issues with Bruno back then.


It would have been a great stylistic match up.


See Cobra’s great breakdown.