Would Bowe vs Lewis end up in a KO or go to the distance?

Hard to say really.
Bowe s chin never really let him down,tho he never faced a real live puncher like LL.
That early on tho, Lewis was still raw and pre Steward so the fight could be close anyway.

 

I don't think so, Bowe was too brave for his own good and he had insane cardio compared to Lewis. Lewis was the only one of the two who could actually fight strategically when he needed to, but he was quite aggressive against fighters his size. I don't see him playing the jab & grab game with Bowe. Hell even in their Olympics match, Lewis got outboxed by Bowe in the first round, then dropped the fancy stuff and just walked down & punched the juice out of Bowe in the next round.

Either Lewis would exploit Bowe's defensive gaps and TKO him, or Bowe would grind him out over the distance and stop a gassed Lewis late.

I always favoured Lewis in this match-up. Despite the general consensus I think he was a fair bit tougher than Bowe in areas that count, way smarter and only one of these guys actually faced elite punchers.

 

The pre-McCall I era Lewis would have invited Bowe into a firefight, which of course Riddick could not decline, and waste him. KO early.

 

Bowe would be the man to deliver the sleeper hit on Lewis who was known at the time for having two left feet and a glass mandibular section.
Bad footwork never beats superior footwork.

 

I could see scenarios where it could end either way

 

If only Bowe actually proved once in his entire career that he could beat an elite boxer his size that could punch. Too busy getting smacked around by Golota I guess.

 

I think Lewis would prevail in a great and competitive fight by decision...

 

Lewis in the early years gets stopped by Bowe. With steward and prepared Lewis by KO . A pity it never happened

 

I believe that based on their interviews given for Boxing Monthly in the 90s, they would have been cautious of each other and not willing to trade unless they showed signs of being hurt.

See for exemple Bowe's comment about Lewis having a good right hand but being average past the 5th round, or Lewis expecting a long, draining fight (IIRC).

 

Bowe stops him

 

It goes the distance Lewis wins, it starts out tentative then it turns into a firefight. Bowe survives any onslaught after knockdowns and would hurt Lewis at some point making the fight more tentative towards the end