1995 - Bowe/Lewis - Who Wins?

Well said. And you are reasonable enough to see that I am not of the ilk who call Lewis a bum and all that nonsense.

I see your argument and it is a good one, however, I see Lewis as a fair strategist with fair skills. His effectiveness is rooted in his size, strength, and especially his power. The wins against Tyson and Holyfield are not so convincing to me because one was shot and the other was very faded. He made far more mistakes than Bowe in the ring and I do not think that he should be favored over guys like Liston, Ali, Foreman, or Louis.

However, he is still easily a top ten HW champ, and top 5 or so head-to-head.

 

Your points about the Lewis camp before McCall are fair ones, but the man strikes me as one who would focus like a Spartan at Thermophylae regardless of what was happening around him. Here we are debating Lewis and Bowe and you have me arguing against Lewis, but have spawned my recognition of another Lewis superlative: I would argue that his mental strength and confidence rivals that of Ali himself. Bowe's is comparable to Don Cockell at best.

 

... and Eddie Futch is missed in this corner in a big way. I truly believe that he was the architect and the reason behind Holyfield's defeat by Bowe during the former's prime, that he was instrumental in Ali's first 2 defeats, and that he was moving inexorably towards defeating Jones as well -had he a live body to implement his strategy. Griffin was not talented enough and McCallum was pushing 40 -but there was Futch looking threw the ropes in the corner, analyzing, watching, planning through those big glasses.

Futch lives through here, though, doesn't he. We are in the know about how great he was.

 

I am in awe of your analytical prowess, (false)god(toppled)king.

 

Greatest tactician ever IMO.

 

.. and to be honest, JT, he is why I am hesitant to be in any corner opposite him. Bowe was able to implement his wisdom and strategy -he was neither old nor short nor lacking talent. He was lazy and inconsistent, and that was what forced Futch to turn his back on him.

I think that Futch would have picked Lewis apart and found every hole for Bowe to capitalize on.

 

Without going into it i still don't think Bowe had the mental capacity to beat Lewis, TBH i don't think he would have taken him on at all tho i know you blame other corners.

I was in awe of Futch's strategy for Spinks vs Qawi, an absolute masterpiece. Tho he simply didn't have the capacity to win for numerous reasons i still would have liked to have seen Arguello with Futch still there for the Pryor rematch. Alexis couldn't win but i was keen to see how Futch was going to approach things. As it was Alexis, absolutely out of character pointed the finger at Futch and started making excuses for the loss, and Eddie being the fine upstanding gentleman he was refused to take on Alexis for the rematch after he had realised the terrible error of his ways. Griffin did away with him and got KTFO in the blink of an eye, which i find totally hilarious in hindsight. I'm a bit of a meanie tho

 

Eddie Futch or not, what we are dealing with here is a huge problem in Bowes mentality towards Lewis. He surrendered the title because he could never picture himself again in the ring with Lewis.

Bowe was scarred for life in 1988. Had he of somehow carried his jelly legs into the ring with Lewis in the mid 90’s he would have been jumped on and stopped in a big way. Period.

 

... that is the million dollar question: Bowe's mental place regarding Lewis. I am actually more willing to accept that he may have been defeated already in his own head. This debate with my two friends out here is really more theoretical than usual for me because I am controlling for that speculation. I think that when all is said and done, Bowe's skills exceeded Lewis's, even if his strength and power did not. I go with skills as the primary factor in head to heads. The Futch factor convinces me further.

Those who disagree with rationality find an embrace here!

 

Okay, Spoon. Control for that speculation as I have and proceed with an open mind. Assuming fear and trembling while so far from the time, the camp, and even farther from the fighter's head is worth little.

 

Well i'd have to say rather than looking for an embrace i really do believe Bowe knew and believed Lewis was going to kick his ass. Regarding skill advantage, there are literally thousands examples of the more skilled, or supposed more skilled fighter losing. When push come to shove in this one i simply don't believe Bowe had the balls, tho Golota made them look like pretty big targets.

 

In a stylistic analysis, Lennox Lewis; the more imposing, assertive fighter, takes charge of the fight and stops Bowe with some boomers, but in reality, Riddick Bowe was genuinely fearful of Lennox. He went as far as giving up his right as champion to avoid fighting Lewis. There is nothing else to say.

 

Ha!

Well, that version of Golota was formidable -or appeared formidable. Someone brought that up earlier in the thread and I agree. Whether or not he could have been just bombed out was not known at that time but he was very good for those fights.

 

I find your casual assertion that Bowe would be stopped- when he never was stopped- to be problematic at many levels.

For an analyst who prides himself on lucid argument and facts, it is surprising to see that your post lacks both.

 

You're in trouble now, none other than the great Ted Spoon is letting you know the error of your ways! Just when i thought we were not going to find certain closure on this one.