Lewis KO's Bowe in 3. Much like the Lewis v Ruddck or Golota fights. Lewis' jab dominates rounds 1 and 2. Bowe's defence was just not good enough. If Lewis hit him as often as Holyfield or Hide then Bowe falls quickly.
One thing's for sure, I don't think any queries of technical ability or fighting to a gameplan really apply. This would be nasty and short either which way.
The fight not happening when it should have was entirely Bowe's camp's fault. As you say, there was a binding contract in place that stipulated that whomever emerged the victors in the Holyfield-Bowe and Ruddock-Lewis fights, would fight each other. That was a signed and sealed contract. So Lewis and Bowe both win, and one then would reasonably expect one of the tastiest matchups of the decade. The problem was though, that I think Lewis' showing against Ruddock was so good, it scared the hell out of the Bowe camp. And let's not forget, if we go on the betting odds, Ruddock was the man most expected to eventually face Bowe, not Lewis. Donovan was considered a bit too much at that point for an inexperienced Lewis, so we can reasonably assume that the Bowe camp were more than a bit startled that not only did Lewis win, but he blew the dangerous Ruddock away - something not even Tyson could do, in two attempts. I don't think Bowe is a coward. Far from it. I think he would have fought Lewis. But Rock Newman I think could see nothing but trouble in Lewis and at that point staged that farcical press conference to avoid a meeting with Lennox.
Prime vs Prime I would pick Lewis, but only because Bowe's discipline is not up to scratch! When it comes to natural ability, skills & ability, Bowe was brilliant! Some people actually think Lewis would have beaten Bowe when the fight came closest to happening - 1993, but that's absurd! Lewis was not a his peak then, was not with Emanuel Steward. Bowe, in 1993, was a brilliant fighter, had not long defeated Holyfield for the title. At such a time in their respective careers, Bowe was the more matture boxer for sure! However, from 1995 onwards, Lewis would have had Bowe! Lennox' best bet would have been to get him out of there early, ala Andrew Golota type!
Great post. And I agree, I don't like calling boxers cowards, as anyone who gets into a ring to fight has to have plenty of guts. Having said that, I think if Bowe pushed for the fight saying he wanted to avenge his olympic loss, he probably could have made it happen.
More importantly than avenging an amatuer loss, making money or building legacies, these two men had an obligation to the fans and the boxing world to meet each other in the ring. Bowe still went on to making big bucks as did Lewis along with having a great career. The fans however, were cheated out of a long anticipated match.... Boxing was given a black eye on that day....
Bowe by brutal knockout. Lewis doesnt have the chin nor the heart for the all out warfare Big Daddy will unleash upon his fragile anatomy. sweet revenge for the 1988 robbery
Can't argue with that. Hard to know what Bowe and his managment team were thinking, perhaps they thought a Lewis fight might materialize later down the road, or they just didn't want this fight to happen period, either way the fans definately got short changed on a fight that needed to happen but never did. Seems to me when there's a contract in place for said fight it should have happened. Interesting to note what Bowe's legacy would have been had there been a fight and he won.
Lewis faced bigger punchers than Riddick Bowe and took their best shots. Take a lot at the shots Lewis took against Mercer and Tua, Lewis not having a chin is a myth.
Agreed, I think he just got tagged in the right place at the right time. **** happens. You've already mentioned the Tua and Mercer fights. I will also ad that he took some hard shots from Frank Bruno, Gary Mason, Vitali Klitschko, Tommy Morrison and Shanon Briggs..