Does anyone here rate Bowe above Lewis ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Unforgiven, Jul 17, 2008.


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  1. Pat_Lowe

    Pat_Lowe Active Member Full Member

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    Come on, Its clear as day that Bowe ducked Lewis, but I doubt the amatuer fight had much to do with it. Lewis won but it was stopped way to early and it wasn't really what I would consider a fear inducing performance.
     
    Pat_Lowe, Jul 17, 2008
    Pat_Lowe, Jul 17, 2008
    #16
  2. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    So why didn't Bowe fight Lewis?

    Personally i reckon Bowe knew
     
    JohnThomas1, Jul 17, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Jul 17, 2008
    #17
  3. sp6r=underrated

    sp6r=underrated Member Full Member

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    If Lewis didn't lose to McCall, Bowe would have faced Lewis
    .
     
    sp6r=underrated, Jul 17, 2008
    sp6r=underrated, Jul 17, 2008
    #18
  4. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Was scheduled might be a better term :yep
     
    JohnThomas1, Jul 17, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Jul 17, 2008
    #19
  5. sp6r=underrated

    sp6r=underrated Member Full Member

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    It doesn't excuse Bowe ducking Lewis after the first Holyfield fight, but I do think he would have faced Lewis if Lennox had beat McCall.

    What makes Bowe's decision so weird from a boxing standpoint, is that if the Lewis fight did take place as it was originally scheduled after the Ruddock/Holyfield, Bowe would have had a much better shot than in 95. In 93, I think Bowe would have won.
     
    sp6r=underrated, Jul 17, 2008
    sp6r=underrated, Jul 17, 2008
    #20
  6. Loewe

    Loewe internet hero Full Member

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    Lewis is my number 5 all-time hw while i don´t think Chicken Bowe deserves a place in the Top20.
     
    Loewe, Jul 18, 2008
    Loewe, Jul 18, 2008
    #21
  7. DamonD

    DamonD Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Is Zak having a sleep or something?
     
    DamonD, Jul 18, 2008
    DamonD, Jul 18, 2008
    #22
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    :lol:

    Here:

    iF IT IS A FIGHTING WTIT Lennox Lewis then becasue he got knocked out these times he would definitely get knocked out.

    Better?
     
    McGrain, Jul 18, 2008
    McGrain, Jul 18, 2008
    #23
  9. Ezzard

    Ezzard Well-Known Member Full Member

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    IMO Bowe wasn't afraid he dumped the belt because if he was going to risk all against Lennox then it was going to be when both men had momentum and publicity machines behind them so the fight would make them squillions.

    Lewis may have been KO'd twice and there is always that suspscion but similarly Bowe had plenty of off nights and was essentially a hot and cold fighter.
     
    Ezzard, Jul 18, 2008
    Ezzard, Jul 18, 2008
    #24
  10. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

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    I think Rock Newman saw the easy HBO dollars they could make and wanted to milk it for as long as they could before taking a high-risk fight like Lewis.

    His 3 title defenses came against overmatched Michael Dokes and Jesse Ferguson, and a supposedly easy rematch with Evander Holyfield. Bowe most likely thought it'd be easy, hence the excess 12 pounds and flab he carried into the ring.
     
    Thread Stealer, Jul 18, 2008
    Thread Stealer, Jul 18, 2008
    #25
  11. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    I've always found the idea that Riddick Bowe DECIDED not to fight Lewis and DECIDED to bin the WBC belt hard to take seriously.

    Not disrespect to Bowe, but he hardly came across as one of these thoughtful decision-making calculating business-minded modern athletes.
    Him and Rock Newman were a odd couple. Newman had his own ideas, and a flawed plan (but I guess he made his millions) and I wouldn't be surprised if Bowe's remit extended to calling people "******" and crass pre-fight antics. The picture of him and Newman having a considered conversation in which Bowe negotiates his way out of meeting Lewis just doesn't sit right. I guess anything's possible though.

    What I think happened is Newman wanted Bowe on an easy "bum of the month" schedule for at least 18 nonths, practically taking money on false pretenses but building the Bowe image into public consciousness. A "people's champion", and Newman thought he was in a strong enough position to **** on everyone, the WBC etc.
    Lewis looked awesome destroying Ruddock so it was obviously the wrong time to fight him (in this regard I think Newman did what most NEW champs managers would have done in the same situation).
    I think Newman was just winging it as he went along. And no doubt hoping to hold Lewis off until he's peaked or lost, while thinking young Bowe would just keep getting better. I believe his master plan probably included a dozen "easy defences" and a mega-fight with Mike Tyson four or five years down the line, Lennox Lewis just a contingent "maybe", and the sanctioning bodies be damned.
    Of course, Newman's plan backfired. The whole plan probably rested on the assumption that soon enough Lewis would be old news, and temporary thing that would blow over, while Bowe would be the real champion for a long time. Things turned out almost exact opposite.
     
    Unforgiven, Jul 18, 2008
    Unforgiven, Jul 18, 2008
    #26
  12. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    The odds favor Lewis since he blew Bowe out in the Olympics and Riddick clearly wanted no part of him ... that being said, the Bowe that fought Holyfield the first time had a hell of a shot if he did not get caught early ... we will never know and it is Riddicks fault ...:patsch
     
    he grant, Jul 19, 2008
    he grant, Jul 19, 2008
    #27
  13. Doppleganger

    Doppleganger Southside Slugger Full Member

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    I think Zak has somehow taken over Rooster cos Rooster's posting the same nonsense about Lewis that Zak normally posts. :p

    If Lewis had struggled to get past Ruddock Bowe would have fought him, no doubt in my mind. Because he blew Ruddock away, Bowe (and Newman) wanted no part of him.

    Com'on, you don't just throw away the heavyweight championship of the world (arguably the most prestigious belt) without a very good reason.
     
    Doppleganger, Jul 19, 2008
    Doppleganger, Jul 19, 2008
    #28
  14. Brummy1976

    Brummy1976 Guest

    I'd go with your goodself here.Bowe imo was better to watch than lewis, where as lewis had a tendency to think more bowe could end up in a tear up...........
     
    Brummy1976, Jul 19, 2008
    Brummy1976, Jul 19, 2008
    #29
  15. redrooster

    redrooster Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bowe surely wasn't afraid to meet with glass jawed Lewis. Lewis is another guy who can hit like hell but has a suspect chin. History is full of those types.

    Bowe not the hitter Lewis was but didnt have all the flaws to go along with it.
     
    redrooster, Jul 19, 2008
    redrooster, Jul 19, 2008
    #30
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