Thats what you were lead to believe sucker. Lewis refused the same split Bowe got for the first Holyfield fight which was around 3 million. Kind told him to turn it down and convinced him with a 10million fight against Tucker. Why would Lewis fight Bowe who he was clearly not ready for when he could win the vacant WBC against washed up Tucker for 10 million instead. The whole operation was orchestrated by King and his best mate Sulliman to get the belt from Bowe without beating him for it. Lewis was a disgrace of a 'champ'.
Lewis wasn't a 'champ', he was the lineal heavyweight champion of the world. Took on a lot of top contenders, too.
Not just that---look at that opposition after losing to Commander Vander. Anyone ever really think much of buster Mathis? Anyone like his chances going in? If bowe wasn't the house fighter, he's dq'd not a no contest. Gonzales. who would be a top 10 guy that he was capable of beating at the time? His best scalp waws a 90 year old Snipes. He never faced a live body, when he did, it was all over. Pretty much exactly what most folks thought would happen to the guy. And witherspoon got rid of him even worse. Hide. How often does anybody mention herbie these days? Everyone seems enamored with hitters like Morrison/Tua/ruddock/ and so on. What about ex-cruiser Herbie? Anyone expecting Herbie to take his act out of Norwich and be a road warrior and come out with a win? Larry donald. Everyone wanted to see a different opponent than that guy. He was not even a blip on the radar and hardly looked at as all that hot of a prospect. And despite the press conference sucker punch combo, the bout still goes 12. And just who else made Andrew golata look that good? Everytime he fought a hitter he was out of there quick. every ranked or decent competitve matchup, he struggled and had tough bouts. the guy he looked best against was Bowe. Everything else is win a round lose a round. So no minefield to negotiate. Dokes and Ferguson should have never had title shots. Not wth the opposition that was available to fight instead. And it's hardly a case of him being a road warrior. Or how about taking on some DKP fighters, where the deck is stacked? Tough to beat those DKP fighters in a cross promotion. None of those fights either. Just a diet of 3rd tier guys.
He was ok. He didn't win any of his biggest fights. Even his best win to Patterson should have been a loss.
The following names: Ali Louis Tyson Lewis Liston Foreman Not sure about Holmes v Bowe. I favour him over Frazier and obvs him vs Holy is 50-50
Bowe had a couple of drawbacks though. Less than stellar defense, and a disturbing tendency to fight toe to toe when he didn't need to do so. He also failed to come in to many fights in prime physical condition. At his peak he was very good but he did lose to Holyfield in 93 when in his prime.
ali - maybe louis- too small for bowe tyson - i think bowe has an advantage in style lewis - it would turn in a fight, and bowe was a better fighter liston - maybe foreman - maybe, but bowe is way more polished and technical holmes may beat him, but he has a big size disadvantage. he whooped prime evander, how the hell is 50-50
...he beat Bonavena, Quarry, Martin, Quarry, Chuvalo. That's "ok"? Yeah, I don't really like Ellis getting that win. I had it 7-5-2. I've never seen a version without the missing 15th. If Ellis won the fifteenth I'd see that fight pretty much as a coin toss. I do like Patterson better in that fight. But holding Patterson to a close loss alone makes you a very good heavy.
Lewis done a double stint in the Olympics so his career trajectory wouldn't run parallel to Mike Tysons. That tells you everything you need to know. He wasn't beating Bowe when he had Pepe in his corner and was making all sorts of foolish mistakes.
Louis is too small for no one. Behave. Tyson is far too quick for someone who blocks punches with their face. Bowe has a better punch variety, but that uppercut from Lewis would find a home. Prime Holy whooped him as well.
When Bowe ducked Lewis I think he had the advantage and certainly could capitalise as McCall did, the only issue is I feel Bowe had a mental block and that might prevent him being his best, still I favour Bowe when he was the champion and Lewis the challenger. But by circa 96 when it seemed like it was gonna happen I would favour Lewis heavily.
Yes Bowe had a better inside game, although Lennox has the bigger uppercut and was the significantly stronger man so wouldn't wilt inside. Outside Lennox would land first with his jab and right easily because he was much quicker. Lennox's defence is better more because of ring generalship, where as Bowe was content to walk through opponents. Bowe may have the better chin, Lennox's is underrated if you look at some of the shots he took, but if you eat Lennox's big bombs you'll pay for it So my pick is Lennox by KO over Bowe. As for Tyson Bowe I left that out as I'm genuinely unsure who gets who. As for Wlad, yes Bowe can knock Wlad out, providing he gets to him. That fight he has much more of chance though I agree. EDIT Based on the Tubbs fight and Golota, I can't see him doing well against Ali even if both aren't in his prime, there's Holyfield 2 in the same style of boxing and moving.
People are making Bowe out to be this head to head monster, and I am just not convinced. We didn't see him in against that many quality fighters, and it might just be a case of him having the right style to deal with Holyfield.
He didn't have the right style for Holy. Prime for prime they went 1-1. Holy very nearly sparked Bowe before punching himself out when past his own best.
Short prime which was interrupted by the fan man loss to Holy in 93, would have been better if he wasn't so damn lazy.. His best performance was the rubber match with Holy in which he was nearly KO'd, it was all downhill after that.. After the 2nd Golota fight his brain was fried, and he was done.. Lewis will go down in history as the better fighter, throwing his belts in the trash can was the ultimate ***** move, and just proves he was scared of Lewis.