How would either of these things alter his ATG, boxing status, legacy etc... if they would at all... If Lewis had actually fought, and beat Bowe around the time they were supposed to meet, and won? If Lewis came back now at 42 (last month), and beat Wlad Klit? *not saying he necessarily could*
I don't think either affects his status. Anyone with a brain knows he would have skull****ed Bowe. Without headgear, it would get ugly. And the last part, wouldn't do much. Lennox fought the next best fighter in the division at 38 when other fighters at that age would get smoked and everyone would make excuses that they were shot. He didn't cherry pick Moorer or anyone like that. I do think he could come back right now and beat everyone except Valuev and Wlad. Valuev would require Lennox to have a gameplan and be in reasonable shape because of his awkwardness, iron chin, and size. Wlad, he would need a gameplan and be in the best shape he could be at 42.
Well, of course it would improve his status - providing he fought the prime Riddick Bowe of 1993-94, and not the one of 1996 or later. Of course, given that he had a tendency to fight the great fighters of his era when they were getting a little long in the tooth (Holyfield, Tyson), there's no guarantee here. As far as fighting Klitschko and beating him now, this would certainly add to his legacy.
Beating Bowe as a pro would not advance his legacy much. He whipped that psycho in the Olympics and Bowe ran from Lennox as a pro. Lennox could not beat Wlad now but would have beaten him in his prime quite handily. He was basically a more fluid, athletic version of Wlad with a better chin and a better ring general. No disrespect to Wlad who is a terrific champion and terribly underated but Lennox was an ATG.
I think either adds nothing to his legacy. Bowe didn't want to fight him and publicly embarrassed boxing in efforts to display this. Wladimir Klitschko would struggle greatly with Lewis. At some point, Lewis would tag Wlad with his right hand and if it didn't knock Wlad down, it would certainly put him into his shell. Even at 42, Lewis would be too much much for Wlad to handle
No. 1.Bowe ducked Lewis, everyone knows this 2.Klitschko lost to Corrie Sanders, Ross Purrity and Lamon Brewster in his prime, and was floored a record 63 times in his career. History wont remember him as much
In the long run it probably wouldn't change his position too much in the ATG HW list, but if he was to come back right now and beat Wlad, who is currently the top dog that doesn't look like falling any time soon, the fact that he would be 42 alone would make it a very impressive win. Might not change his legacy too much in the very long term but it would definitely buff the next 10-20 years of Lennox talk substantially.
Wlad hasn't been floored 63 times and you have no idea of how history will judge Wlad's career. We only know the past and the present and right now Wlad is a long-term heavyweight unified champion.
