Does Anyone Think Lewis Could Have Beaten Bowe,In 1992 ?

I have seen this story on the forum before (It might have been your good self who's previously posted Steward's take) and something along those lines has been reiterated in literature, elsewhere.

It kind of has a ring of truth about it, given that Futch was reluctant to train Bowe in the first place, due to his poor attitude and habits. His subsequent departure from the Bowe camp - in apparent disgust - after the first Golota debacle also makes one wonder what he really thought of Bowe's character.

I also seem to remember reading somewhere that Bowe's bad habits had started to creep back in, even before the first Holyfield bout; that Futch had seen the writing on the wall, as far back as then.

Futch, of course, would shortly before his passing, claim that he had wanted the Lewis fight and that it was Newman who put the block on it.

 

It's important to realize that everything Lewis did after June 8th 2002, boiled down to and revolved around Tyson activating the rematch clause in their contract. If Lewis was to carry on fighting (and he was seriously considering retirement at this stage), then there needed to be a planned approach to setting up Lewis/Tyson II - and it would involve a build-up.

Byrd just didn't figure into that build-up because he was considered box-office poison and, quite frankly, had been bludgeoned by lesser regarded men than Lewis already. Moreover, HBO were never going to promote it as a PPV. Byrd fights just looked crappy and it was not going to add any value to the Lewis/Tyson rematch build-up.

In short, nobody wanted the Lewis/Byrd fight. Not even Byrd's promoter.

Once Lewis announced his intention to vacate the IBF title (September 2002), news started coming down the wire that pegged Vitali K as the opponent and the team with whom the Lewis camp were talking; the aim being to hold the bout in the spring of 2003. The bout was contingent on Vitali beating Larry Donald, which he did - After which, firmer news of the Lewis/Vitali bout started to be printed.


The Record

Hackensack, New Jersey
Fri, Jun 28, 2002
Page 16 (S-2)


SPORTS BRIEFS

BOXING

This content is protected

in his contract with IBF-WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, manager Shelly Finked said. Under the contract, lewis is required to fight Tyson again - but allowed and interim bout, which could be a mandatory defector his IBF belt against No. 1 contender Chris Byrd.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Evening Standard

London, Greater London, England •
Fri, Jun 28, 2002
Page 259


Lewis to Fight On (EXCERPT)

By David Smith

LENNOX LEWIS is set to shelve plans to retire from the boxing ring — and his next fight could be a rematch with Mike Tyson.
In the wake of an acclaimed eighth-round demolition of Tyson in Memphis earlier this month London-born Lewis admitted that hanging up his gloves at the defining moment of his heavyweight career was a serious option.
However well-placed sources have told Standard Sport that the 36-year-old world champion has already begun preliminary negotiations to make a mandatory defence of his International Boxing Federation title against Nol challenger Chris Byrd of the United States.
But if a suitable agreement for a purse worth up to £10 million for Lewis cannot be reached — and southpaw Byrd is not considered to be a major boxing attraction by the television stations who bankroll the big fights — then the champion could give up the IBF title and instead take a lucrative return with Tyson when the belt belonging to the World Boxing Council would be on the line.

This content is protected

“I want to preserve Mike’s rights” said Shelly Finkel manager of boxing’s most controversial character who was comprehensively beaten by Lewis on 8 June.
That fight drew a pay-per-view television audience of 18 million households making it the second most popular ppv boxing attraction behind the infamous “Bite-Fight” between Tyson and Evander Holyfield in 1997 which attracted 1.99 million buys.
Finkel believes that Tyson who celebrates his own 36th birthday on Sunday remains a huge draw despite the manner of his defeat against Lewis when he was counted out while fiat on the canvas.
He said: “The next fight people will want to see if it was a fluke or of it was for real. I believe Mike’s next fight if it’s on regular TV.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Evening Standard

London, Greater London, England •
Fri, Nov 29, 2002
Page 85


Lewis to Face Klitschko for Title

This content is protected

, Lewis’s manager confirmed today.
Adrian Ogun said he had to clear the final details with pay-TV channel HBO before saying where and when the fight would be.
However it is likely to be staged in late February or early March in the United States.
Lewis holds the WBC title but gave up his IBF crown in September because he had no interest in a mandatory defence against No 1 contender Chris Byrd Klitschko 31 has won 32 of his 33 professional fights 31 by knockout.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Northwest Herald

Woodstock, Illinois
Mon, Dec 2, 2002
Page 20


Champion Lewis Ready to Defend Title

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON - Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is planning three fights starting in March, including bouts against Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko and a rematch with Mike Tyson.

"

This content is protected

" Lewis told the BBC on Sunday.

"My negotiating team has a preliminary agreement in place for that fight, as well as fights against Mike Tyson and Wladimir Klitschko in the event that I decide to continue fighting after the Vitali Klitschko fight."

Lennox, 37, expects the contract for the bout against Vitali Klitschko to be finalized within two weeks.

Lewis' manager, Adrian Ogun, said Friday the site and exact date will be set as soon as possible. Ogun also said promoters will meet in the next few days with representatives from HBO, which will broadcast the fight, to complete arrangements.


It had been thought the WBC heavyweight champion the from Britain might quit the sport after beating Tyson in the eighth round in June in Memphis.

But the BBC reported Lewis will take on Vitali Klitschko in March, then give Tyson a rematch and finally face Klitschko's brother Wladimir, the WBO titleholder.

Tyson is scheduled to return to the ring for the first time since his defeat by Lewis when he fights Clifford Etienne, also in Memphis, on Feb. 22.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Daily News

New York, New York
Tue, Jan 21, 2003
Page 69

For Gloves, day at Beach

The Daily News Golden Gloves will open the 2003 tournament with two nights of boxing starting Thursday in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Friday night the tournament swings up to Harlem. Opening night 2003 will be held at Atlantic Oceana, a 1,500-seat Russian nightclub on Brighton Beach Ave. Having produced a pair of Russian-born champions - - Dmitriy Salita and Yuri Foreman in 2001, it makes perfect sense for the Gloves to make a stop in the heart of the city's Russian community. Both boxers are expected to be on hand, as will several other Russian boxers and athletes.

Don't look for the Klitschko brothers.

This content is protected

, he and his brother Wladimir have canceled their scheduled appearance.

Bouts start at 8 p.m. - Bill Farrell.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Statesman Journal

Salem, Oregon
Sat, Jan 25, 2003
Page 2


Lewis Considering Rematch with Tyson

Lennox Lewis says his next fight may be a rematch with Mike Tyson in June.

This content is protected

. Burnstein said Lewis will watch how Tyson fights Feb. 22 against Clifford Etienne in Memphis. Lewis stopped Tyson in the eighth round of their heavyweight championship fight June 8, and neither fighter has fought s since.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Star-Gazette

Elmira, New York
Sat, Jan 25, 2003
Page 5


MORNING BRIEFING

BOXING

Lewis-Tyson Rematch could be Possible

Lennox Lewis says his next fight may be a rematch with Mike Tyson in June.

This content is protected

. Burnstein said Lewis will watch how Tyson does Feb. 22 against Clifford Etienne in Memphis. "Now that there will be no April fight, Lennox has a contractual obligation to consider Mike Tyson as his June opponent and looks forward to seeing how Tyson performs in his February fight against Clifford Etienne," Burnstein said.

Lewis stopped Tyson in the eighth round of their much-anticipated heavyweight championship fight June 8, and neither fighter has fought since. Both fighters had a rematch clause in their contracts for that fight.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Johnson is not mentioned as a possible opponent for Lewis until after he beats Lou Savarese, in March 2003. Even then, it is in the same line as Vitali being mentioned. So, it really was a choice between Byrd or Vitali, back in the second half of 2002.

 

Lewis was the fighter"who was handled in devastating fashion" by two Palookas via One Punch Ko's who could not hold Bowe's jockstrap.......and that is a absolute fact, Lemmie went down and out times two by simply throwing a right hand with your eyes closed.

 

That is the best advice you have given yourself, stick to swimming and post again in 2032

Yours truly

 

Someone already pointed out that this logic could be applied either way by noticin how Lewis poleaxed Golota while Bowe went life and death with him receivin brain damage before the notorious vasectomy treatment so I don't understand why you keep stickin to this point.
If you think it was more humiliating for Lewis because he was in his "prime", he lost both the times because while Bowe worst enemy was his fridge, Lewis one was arrogance and complacency (as seen from the press conference posted today in world section) and he avenged both them losses while Bowe spent his prime defeating Ferguson and other journeyman.

 

And Chicken Bowe was knocked in to Bolivian by a Polish mental asylum escapee whilst Lewis took his soul in short order.