Who Picks Lennox Lewis To Beat Bowe in 1993?

Too bad this fight didn't take place, would have been a great grudge match. You're right, Newman certainly seemed to not want Bowe anywhere near Lewis. Always wanted to pick Bowe in this matchup, because he was the more complete fighter at the time, but Lewis had enough power and fought well enough at range to give me doubts. In their rematch in 1993, Holyfield tagged Bowe with a right hand at the end of round 5 and had him in trouble. What's it look like if Lewis blasts him with a right hand like that? I suppose I'd pick Bowe anyway by UD. Lennox looked less than spectacular against Tony Tucker & Frank Bruno that year, and might not have been quite ready yet. 2000 Lennox vs. 1993 Bowe however, I'd go with Lennox.

 

Lennox always had Bowes number. Both Newman & the great Eddie Futch knew Bowe couldn't beat Lennox. He had the skills to give Lennox a fight but lacked the heart

 

Lennox STRUGGLED with Holyfield?? He beat his ass TWICE!!! Since when was Vander faded ?LOL

 

Lewis got robbed in their first fight, that was a travesty.
Which may have effected the scoring for the next one because of the controversy.
But it was close enough that you certainly can say that Lennox struggled there-when he should have been at least as dominenat as the first fight.

Because there really is no debate that Holyfield was past it for their fights.
Likely due to steroid cycles, he had gone through ups & downs, the "hole in his heart"...
And he clearly seemed past his bst by Tyson, but such was his obsession, energy & great strategy that he rallied for those fights.

But I am surprised that you would have any skepticism that Holyfield was past prime by then.
He had visibly slowed. Even compared to what he had been vs. Tyson-not his greatest work rate when he was younger & smaller-he could really only fight effectively, with decent volume & combinations, in spurts.

Can't you see how much his speed & work rate had slowed in either fight against Lewis?
Not from damage incurred, but he was slower, + just did not have the energy reserves anymore.

In fact it raises a huge question about whether Holyfield beats Lewis prime for prime.

 

Agree. Lewis was still very rough in some of his early fights before training under steward. Had he not gotten Ruddock out as early as he did things might have gone south for him in the later rounds. And as you say Bruno was having some success against him. Bowe would have been a very formidable opponent in 1993

 

It is kind of tricky, not just in the context of what you're saying, but also given whenever we choose Holy's prime to be.

The guy who beat the crap out of Douglas had some trouble with both Holmes and Foreman, guys in their early 40s. Some see him as the beginning of Holy's peak. I don't.

To me Holy began peaking when he fought Bowe, a young man who was similarly beginning his peak. That Holy to me outworks even prime Lewis (as you undoubtedly remember, that Lewis, though incredibly great, was a heck of a lot more cautious). I don't think Lewis would have been able to quite beat him, and I'm positive the pre-Steward Lewis would lose worse. Holy was just too busy, durable, and smart.

But that's just me.

 

Lewis was unrefined and make made lots of silly mistakes if you go back that early.

Bowe was at his absolute best.

 

Yes, Lewis relied a lot more on his power back then. His eventual hiring of Steward made a huge difference, and led to his becoming a top 5 ATG imo.

 

Lewis had no jab in 93. Bowe by decision

 

Lennox with Emanuel destroys any version of Bowe. Prior to that I think Bowe's skills were a little more refined.

 

I don't know why you chose 1993, but I vote for Lennox Lewis.
1993 was a pretty good year for Lennox Lewis; he beat Tony Tucker and Frank Bruno (would be a nice addition to Bowe's resume).
In 1993 Bowe defeated Michael Dokes and Jesse Ferguson and lost to Evander Holyfield.
BTW has Bowe ever fought a boxer of the quality of Lennox Lewis (Lennox Lewis 1993?)?
I vote for Lennox Lewis in 1993 and always.
P.S. I vote for Lennox Lewis in the Olympics too

 

Lennox before Manny Steward sculpted him, I would've given Bowe a minor chance against, but could still see Lennox stopping him.

Post 95, I don't think Bowe would've had any chance whatsoever.

 

Rock Newman sure thought so

 

Newman had to have been Bowe's biggest mistake. He screwed Bowe out of a huge payday with Lewis twice (oh, wait, I forgot Lewis refused the 11 million dollar offer the second time).

Plus, Newman orchestrated the whole belt in trash idea. One wonders whom was worse: Newman for orchestrating it, or Bowe for being dumb enough to follow along.

 

Bowe remains the most overrated heavy of the 90's which says a lot. The guy was carefully guided around the hardpunching icebergs in the fistic sea while Lewis lined them up like dominoes.

Lewis often like to take out the big fellows early and he might have done the same here. Either early or late, I see him stopping Bowe.