Holyfield says Bowe was the best fighter he fought

Neither did Evander, the juice took over.

 

I can believe it. Bowe was in his prime at the time.

 

Two guys at their peaks fighting for the heavyweight title and putting on 2 memorable fights...who else would he possibly pick?

 

he also said, even though he was old, that foreman was the toughest and hardest puncher he faced!

 

No surprise there.

 

There was no duck, Bowe was not afraid of Lewis. He was simply badly advised by his greedy manager.
And given that Lewis at that point was not the well polished boxer he latter became, Bowe poleaxes him.

 

He couldn’t poleaxe Biggs, Tubbs or even Larry Donald. Lewis was a much better fighter than these guys even before Steward got hold of him and by leagues a better puncher than any one Bowe ever fought.

Lewis improved under Steward greatly but he was still a very formidable, world class fighter and puncher (the type Bowe actively avoided his entire career) before Manny went anywhere near him. People make out LL was some boxing doofus pre Steward and it’s bulltish. Lewis lost to McCall because he took him lightly simple as. Lewis would be fired up for Bowe because he hated his guts, much like he was for any supposed threat (Ruddock, Golota, Grant, Tyson)….when Lewis was motivated he was a destroyer and he’d destroy Bowe.