1993 - Bowe/Lewis - Who Wins?

Biggest heavyweight fight that didn't happen (outside of a Holmes/Foreman clash in the late 70s) is clearly a Bowe/Lewis clash in 1993

So who wins this fight?

Yes I know that Rock Newman and Bowe 'ducked' Lewis and decided instead to go on a world tour to maximize Bowe financially and take low risk fights. And I know that Lewis beat Bowe in the amateurs - although this should count for very little because Henry Tillman beat Mike Tyson in the amateurs and then was destroyed when they fought professionally. But let us assume this fight goes off as it was supposed to after the Lewis/Ruddock, Bowe/Holy I fights.

Remember Bowe was in his prime at this point coming off the best win of his career. Bowe was still top notch in 93 - he crushed Dokes and Ferguson and lost a close fight with Holyfield in their 2nd bout. So while some say Bowe was only prime for one fight, I think he was still easily in his prime in 93. I don't think Bowe had faded significantly until 96 with the Golota fights.

Lewis was a top notch contender in 93, but he had not hit his prime yet. He beat Tony Tucker by decision but his performance was not one of his more impressive ones. Against Bruno, he had to come from behind to win. So while Lewis was one of the best in the world, he had not hit his prime yet.

Prediction - Bowe UD - 115-113, 115-114, 115-113

I think Bowe in 93 wins a close decision against the not yet prime Lewis.

Bowe was one of the best infighters ever, especially considering his size. Bowe had a strong jab, threw good combinations, and could through some enormous uppercuts (see Holy I-Rd 10). Bowe also had a strong chin as well.

Lewis was really good in 93, but I don't think he had enough to outpoint a prime Bowe at this point. Yes he had the most powerful punch of the 2 - Lewis's right hand. Yes he destroyed Rudduck. Yes he beat Bowe in the amateurs.

But the Lewis of 93 had 3 things missing from a prime Lewis
1. Emanuel Steward
2. Jab was not great yet - he pawed with it too much
3. Defense was not as tight as it was with Steward - see
Oliver Mccall in 94.

So I like Bowe in 93 in a great fight - in what would have been the best big man fight ever.

 

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Voting definitely closer for the 93 matchup than the 95 one, as expected

Although I don't think Bowe was that much deterioted in 95, if he wasn't prime he was still pretty close considering his KO of Gonzalez and then being the first man to knock Holy out

 

I wouldn't go so far as to say Bowe had no defense
He could be hit for sure, but Bowe had a pretty strong chin so I don't think he'd get KOd so easily by Lewis, particularly in 93 when Lewis wasn't prime yet

I can't understand how someone can watch a fight like Lewis/Tucker in 93 and then see Bowe/Holy I in 92 or even Bowe/Ferguson in 93 and not concede that Bowe was ahead of Lewis at that point

Bowe would dominate Lewis on the inside in 93, and on the outside I'd say Bowe's jab and Lewis's jab were a pretty even contest
Yes Bowe would get hit, but he would be smart enough to protect himself from getting hit flush with a Lewis right hand and his chin should keep him in it. I think Bowe could knock Lewis out but I think a close decision win is more likely in 93 in what would have been a great fight

I agree in 95 Lewis takes Bowe, but in 93 Bowe had the edge.
The voting is Lewis by a wide margin in 95, but the 93 fight is much closer, so this notion that Lewis would destroy Bowe in 93 is a bit ridiculous

Objectivity is key when looking at these matchups and it seems there are so many Lewis fans that loathe Bowe that they forget that Bowe was recognized as a pretty great fighter back in 93, and in fact it could be argued Bowe was the most talented of the Big 4 (Tyson, Holy, Bowe, Lewis)