Bowe is a superior boxer to Lewis

Lewis and Bowe turned pro a couple months after they fought in October 1988. If they'd have fought in March 1989, you think Bowe suddenly wins? I don't.

It's not like they met as children.

And we'll never know if Bowe beats the guys who beat Lewis, because Bowe never fought them or JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER TOP GUY of the decade.

But we DO KNOW that not only did Lewis beat Bowe, he beat all the guys who essentially beat Bowe as a pro ... including Holyfield and Golota (in about 90 seconds).

And we know Bowe dumped the belt rather than fight the guy who had stopped him in 1988.

We DO know all that.

Who was the best guy Bowe fought other than Holyfield? (Because Lewis beat Evander, too, and never lost to him.)

Is everyone afraid to write down a name?

Who was the best heavyweight Bowe defeated as a pro other than Holyfield?

 

Excellent post.

 

I see people put too much stock in the amateur fight. Bowe in his prime punishes Lewis in his prime. Prime for prime Bowe was superior.

 

I don't put much stalk in the amateurs but I do put a lot of stock on the fact that Bowe blatantly ducked Lewis, when he had the chance to avenge his Olympic loss.

 

The amateur fight means nothing, not least for the fact that it was a very quick referee stoppage.
Bowe proved in his pro fights that he could come firing back from more serious hurtness than that, so it's not even a convincing win.

That whole 1988 Olympics boxing was a bit weird, with some very crooked decisions and sit-down protests, and was funny when the US team's biggest star was KO'd by the guy from Holland in his first fight I think. Kelcie Banks, Regilio Tuur.

 

Lewis got one-shotted by two extremely powerful guys who he defeated in return. Bowe never displayed that power, tho I do believe he a prime Bowe would have a chance against a South Africa Lewis who flew in under-trained and un-acclimatized to that fight after doing his Oceans 11 stint. Prime for prime, Bowe doesn't have the power, durability, mental toughness or ringsmarts to take Lewis. There's a reason Newman & Co. took the short money on Bowe's career.

 

Come on, don't try convincing yourself that Bowe didn't punch as hard as McCall or Rahman.

McCall struggled with Seldon and Ferguson, ffs. Bowe had them wobbling as soon as he connected. Bowe was powerful, don't kid yourself.

 

Guys I have interviewed and others all spoke to Bowe not being an elite puncher. When inspired, he was an excellent offensive technician but not an elite puncher. Not even close to that for his era.

 

Interview as many guys as you want. People contradict themselves often and contradict the brute facts.
It's easier to watch the fights.
Bowe was a big puncher. A lot of heavyweights are.
Outside of icing Lennox Lewis, on what grounds do you consider McCall and Rahman superior powerful to Bowe ?

The suggestion that Bowe didn't have the POWER to trouble Lewis is absurd. Your dismissal of Bowe is reaching down to newer low levels, it's actually quite impressive in its inventiveness. :good

 

This.

I've seen a lot of fights, and typically the guy that slinks off is the guy that knows he is in for a whipping / gets whipped. If Bowe thought he could take Lewis then why on earth would he shy away from pounding out his old nemesis?

Lewis looks better, has a better resume, has actually beaten Bowe and has beaten Golota who flattened Bowe twice. The blatant duck is the cherry on top.

This shouldn't be a discussion.

 

Bowe had terrible defense. I think Lewis would have stopped him.

 

Not true :good Facts say otherwise.

Here are common opponents:

Bowe and McCall

Lionel Butler

Bowe WTKO2
McCall WSD 10

Jesse Ferguson

Bowe WKO2
McCall WUD10

Bruce Seldon

Bowe KO1
McCall KO9

Bowe and Rahman

Ferguson (36 y.o.) - Bowe KO2

Ferguson (41 y.o.) - Rahman WUD12

 

No one is saying he was powder puff puncher. He certainly had power. But no one who fought/sparred with him ranked him alongside Foreman, Lewis or Waldo.

 

Rahman and McCall are neither alongside with these punchers.

 

no love for big daddy on this forum.

i made a thread some time ago about bowe being maybe the best h2h hw but very few posters agreed with me. unforgiven is one of them - we both see bowe's superior skills over other superheavyweights.

Glad to see you colonel giving some props to big daddy :good

bowe is the best big man i ever saw in boxing, and is easily top 5 h2h in my book!