Bowe is a superior boxer to Lewis

Hey, man. I feel like we're having a good discussion but there is so much nonsense on this thread, and this board in general, forgive me if I don't pick up my end quickly. This whole scene is becoming a lot less appealing.

 

Yes, but that's not the point.
My point has been to counter your unfair criticisms of Bowe by pointing out how his schedule and resume and showings in those 7 years (1989 to '96) does not compare at all badly to Lewis's in that time frame, and that perhaps Lewis wouldn't have got as far as he did if he'd been fighting the Holyfield trilogy at that time in Bowe's place.

 

I don't think Lewis would get in the trenches with Holy and surrender his range advantage as did Bowe. Part of Bowe's problem was not using his physical advantages against his opponents. As it was, there were plenty of opportunities for Lewis to take incredible damage against the guys he fought but he largely (except when he himself was too lazy) avoided it due to his style and relying on his physical gifts.

 

Well, a war-torn, slowed-down version of Holyfield made the 2nd fight with a Lewis pretty close, and I think 1999 Lewis was better than 1992 Lewis.
Put 1992 Lewis in with 1992 Holyfield, I'd pick Holyfield to win.
Either way, Bowe deserves a bit more credit than you give him.

 

Holyfield would have wrecked Lewis in 1992. Lewis was way too clumsy and unrefined to take on a masterclass counter-puncher like Holyfield. It would be McCall all over again.

 

I've always thought Rid**** Bowe was a better boxer than Lennox Lewis, in that he looked like he had better balance, he threw the jab better, he was a more fluid boxer ... and yet I don't think Bowe was BETTER than Lewis ... meaning Lewis beats him had they fought in the pros.

Same with Wlad Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko. Looking at them, Wlad was the better boxer. He was more fluid. Technically, he looked very sound compared to Vitali.

But I think Vitali would've destroyed Wlad had they engaged in an actual fight.

As to their records, Lewis stopped Bowe in their only meeting in two rounds in the Olympic Final. It wasn't a questionable three-round decision. Lewis was unloading bombs on Bowe's head. And a few months later, they were both pros.

So I don't see it as much different than if they'd fought in 1989. Bowe lost to Lewis in October 1988, and he turned pro and fought Lionel Butler in March 1989. He hadn't changed much in a few months.

And, yes, Bowe won the title from Holyfield ... and lost it back to him again. Can't take that away from him. But who was the best heavyweight Bowe beat aside from Evander during those years?

Tony Tubbs?

Don't forget, in 1992, Evander Holyfield wasn't very well respected. He'd struggled in title defenses against two 42 year olds ... and he'd nearly been stopped by late sub Bert Cooper.

Most people at the time thought Mike Tyson was the best heavyweight in the world, and they felt that Razor Ruddock was no worse than number-three, behind Holyfield, if not number-two behind Tyson.

And when Tyson went to prison in 1992, the USA Network had a poll of fans asking who did they pick as the favorite to win the four-man tourney between Bowe-Holyfield and Lewis-Ruddock ... and RUDDOCK WON. Because Ruddock looked good even after he fought Tyson.

Frankly, I don't think Lewis loses to anyone Bowe fought in his entire career. Lewis certainly doesn't lose to Golota (who basically ruined Bowe's career). Or Bruce Seldon or Pierre Coetzer. Or Herbie Hide, for god's sake.

By comparison, how would Bowe have done against Gary Mason? How would Bowe have done against Razor Ruddock? How would Bowe have done against Ray Mercer? How would Bowe have done against Tommy Morrison? Hell, how would Bowe have done against the once-beaten Tony Tucker? How would Bowe have handled Frank Bruno's bombs?

(And we can't even throw in people like Bowe-Vitali, or Bowe-Tyson, or Bowe-Tua, or Bowe-Grant, etc. because Bowe never lasted that long.)

Also, Lennox Lewis in 1999 was NOT better than Lennox Lewis in 1992 when he destroyed Ruddock. The Lewis who destroyed Ruddock would've beaten Bowe and Holyfield. He was dangerous and had no fear at all. The cautious Lewis of 1999 could've gotten outworked by a number of people. The 1992 Lewis was going to take your head off ... and he could do it.

So, yes, I agree that Rid**** Bowe was a better boxer than Lewis. But I don't for a minute think Rid**** Bowe would beat Lennox Lewis.

And I certainly don't think Lewis would've been ALL USED UP by 1996 if he'd fought Bowe's schedule. Bowe barely got hit in 90 percent of his fights.

I think Bowe would've been a lot more used up if he'd fought Lennox's actually.

Mason, Ruddock, Morrison, Vitali, Tua, Tyson, Bruno and Mercer punched a lot harder than just about everyone Bowe did fight.

 

Holyfield barely decisioned Foreman and Holmes, and he was nearly KOed by Bert Cooper during that time.

Lewis was a monster in 1992. The cautious Lewis who Holyfield fought in 1999 was very passive. The fearless bomber Lewis could arguably have steamrolled Evander.

 

Lewis wasn't better at age 35 than he was at age 27-28.

 

Are we talking about the same Bowe? Bowe's defense was nonexistent.

 

Who battered Bowe in his 41 fights other than Holyfield?

There was Golota (who Lewis wiped out in about 90 seconds) and who?

Who is this list of big bangers who pounded Bowe in the head?

Buster Mathis? Tubbs?

Because Bowe didn't fight Ruddock, or Mason, or Tua, or Tyson, or Morrison, or Mercer, or Bruno OR FRANKLY ANY of the real bangers of that era ... like Lewis did.

And yet Bowe was totally used up by 1996.

Again, who was the best guy Bowe beat aside from Holyfield?

Take Evander off Bowe's list (because Lewis fought Holyfield a couple times, too) and what does Bowe's competition look like compared to Lennox Lewis' competition?

Lewis fought the FAR tougher competition in his career. And he had a far longer and far more successful career.

Bowe fought Holyfield.

Lewis fought Holyfield AND NEARLY EVERY OTHER BIG NAME, too.

Bowe wouldn't have survived against the guys Lewis beat. But I'm sure Lennox would've done just fine against the Elijah Tillerys and Jesse Fergusons Bowe faced.

 

atsch

Lewis 1999 was far better than Lewis 1992.

Lewis 1999 had FAR better balance, better jab, better footwork, better timing, he was less wide offensively, overall WAY more skilled.

Lewis 1992 had better speed, that's all.

Don't throw Ruddock fight. It was one-hit wonder.

Lewis 1991-94 looked pretty raw and unpolished vs

- Mason, who was coming off detached retina, and landed at will on Lewis' chin, lost on cuts but the fight was even

- old Tucker who really lost to Orlin Norris and MaCall prior (but they were robbed)

- Stiff and slow Bruno who outjabbed Lewis and hurt him in the 3rd

- jorneyman Phil Jackson who was destroyed by Ruddock in 4 rounds and had zero wins over top-30 opponents

- McCall, who lost to Douglas wide, lost to Norris and struggled to beat past-prime Jesse Ferguson

Say what you want but NO WAY Lennox from early 90's was as good or even close to Lennox 1997-2001

 

You're either misremembering things, or have only watched the Ruddock fight, because Lewis looked fairly mediocre against Tucker and Bruno in his next fights and then lost to McCall. Lewis at that point was powerful and athletic but very raw.

Holyfield would have made him look worse than he was, really. Lunging in with that right hand because his feet were about a mile apart and he was pretty open while doing it too...Holyfield would have tattood him with lightning quick counters.

 

Everybody knows that was a bogus , unwarranted stoppage and the product of a corrupt, anti American Olympics.

You try spin it as Lewis knocked Bowe out. He didn't come anywhere close. He even lost the first round. Evidently all he needed to do was land a punch to make the ref step in and end it.

You going to argue Jonsey deserved his points loss to the Korean as well?:nut

 

http://www.drodd.com/images10/clapping-gif7.gif

 

The Lewis who beat Biggs, the Lewis who beat Ruddock was the same guy who beat Golota, and Grant and Botha. He didn't put his feet in a different position. He didn't throw different punches. When he attacked he was the same guy.

The Lewis who jabbed for 10 rounds against Levi Billups was the same Lewis who jabbed for 12 rounds against Mavrovic.

When he was an attacking fighter, Lennow Lewis was next to impossible to beat.

People act like Lennox Lewis suddenly learned how to fight when he met Emanuel Steward. Lewis knew how to box. But when he started knocking everyone out, he just looked for the KO. Steward reminded him to slow down and pick his spots.

And Lennox Lewis at 28 was better than the late 30s guy who fought Tyson. Anyone who says otherwise needs to go back and rewatch some film.

Regardless, Lewis was better than Bowe. He beat him when they fought. He beat better competition. He was a better champion.

Again, who was the best guy Rid**** Bowe beat other than Holyfield?

If Lewis fought all the same guys Bowe did, Lewis would've been even "fresher" at the end of his career than he was. And Bowe likely would've fallen off the map much sooner, because Bowe obviously wasn't built to take much punishment.

Bowe's career was fairly short, and you can count the guys who gave him a hard time on one or two fingers.

If he had to fight the bombers Lewis faced, he likely wouldn't be able to stand upright today.