What with Lennox Lewis having retired from boxing and Riddick Bowe just coming back it reminds me that one of the fights i would have loved to see the most in the early to mid 90's was a clash between the two of them.
It is a rivalry that goes back to even before the Olympic final in 88. For various reasons it didn't happen. I half think that is Bowe was to get back to the top, the only name capable of making Lewis come out of retirement is him.
Just want to know what you guys think firstly what would have happened in 1992 when Bowe was at his best and Lewis still had improving to do and/or a clash between the peak Lewis (rahman 2, Golota)and a peak Bowe (holyfield 1).
This is a matchup i NEVER get bored of thinking about because it could have been amazing. Bowe said to Lennox after the Olympics "I'll see you in the pro's" but it never happened. Apparently they were going to fight after the third Holyfield fight as Lennox interupted Bowes post fight press conference but Bowe just called him a bitch and Lennox walked away. The chemistry for this bout was perfect because Lennox beat him in the Olympics but Bowe excelled far more as a professional faster than Lennox did. Both guys were giants and both could box perfectly. Bowe proved his toughness with his fights against a prime Holyfield. I think for the first few rounds this fight would have been a battle of the jabs and one-twos. A fight to see who can control the ring. I think they would have both been cautious as both had the power to knockout most heavyweights. Although saying that Bowe may have come flying out because as we all know that Lennox was a slow starter in most of his fights. Either way i have no idea who would have won this matchup to be honest. Both fighters were even in alot of ways. As a fan i say Lennox but as a boxing observer at that particular time when Lennox was going to fight him i would say Bowe and only because he had more world class ring experience than Lennox did but i state ONLY at that point.
i say bowe in his prime over lennox in his prime. lennox cannot take a great punch. he just uses his jab thats all he can do but he can't do that with a big man like bowe. thats y i say bowe over lewis
Bowe didn't want anything to do with Lewis, I wonder why... could it be that he knew he would have taken a real hammering? I don't think Bowe would have lasted past the 6th round, Lewis would have been fighting at a range he is comfortable at and he had the heavier punches as well as the better boxing skills. I also think that Lewis would have been up for this fight and been in the best shape of his life. Bowe on the other hand did seem to have a slight lack of discipline durign training.
i say bowe in his prime over lennox in his prime. lennox cannot take a great punch. he just uses his jab thats all he can do but he can't do that with a big man like bowe. thats y i say bowe over lewis
absolute crap. all one of the universally regarded top ten heavies of all time can only use his jab?
kinell he did pretty well demolising the small tiny little razor ruddock then. :eek: And grant who was also a midget. Bruno was also under four foot I believe. :D
sorry dude but thats just inane.
i say bowe in his prime over lennox in his prime. lennox cannot take a great punch. he just uses his jab thats all he can do but he can't do that with a big man like bowe. thats y i say bowe over lewis
I think people forget how overrated Lewis was when he was 220 pounds. He was scared shitless to mix it up with anyone based upon his chin and at times he looked like an amuteur, watch Lewis v. Bruno. Bowe would have probably beat him had they fought in the early nineties, however Lewis would definately have a punchers chance with his wicked right hand. Had they have both fought in their prime I think it is real close to a u pickem, however I would give the nod to Lennox. Bowe in the early ninties, and prime for prime I like lewis.
I say a prime Lewis and prime Bowe is a toss up. Bowes beard was slightly better than Lewis'...it would be a nice matchup regardless. The Bowe that fought Holyfield was a monster. I can see any fighter having trouble with that...
Bowe had retired by the time Lewis was in his prime so it isn`t worth predicting a result. If lewis had fought Bowe in 1993, where Bowe was in his prime and Lewis still a bit green, its a 5o/5o fight. I do lean towards Lewis though. Not just cos he stopped Bowe in the amatuers but also because Bowe`s style suited Lewis. Bigger heavies also allowed Lewis to hit straight instead of hitting downward and this would would favor Lewis. Also, Bowe was quite hittable throughout his career and i believe Bowe`s chin was overrated. He didn`t fight any true punchers in his first 34 fights. Holyfield was never a really hard puncher, Dokes was shot, Jesse Freguson?? Larry Donald can`t punch, Buster Mathias at 6 ko`s on his record, and Herbie Hide was banging Bowe around a bit for the first 2 rounds until Bowe caught him.
Jorge Luis Gonzales was crap, but then Holyfield drops him in their 3rd fight ( and hurts him bad! ), Golota drops and hurts him badly when they fought. Bottom line, Bowe didn`t really fight punchers and this could have been designed by Rock newman. So, Lewis was a great puncher, who stopped him in the amatuers, what happens in the pro`s?
Lewis KO 7
I couldn't agree more. Good karma for you.
Bowe had retired by the time Lewis was in his prime so it isn`t worth predicting a result. If lewis had fought Bowe in 1993, where Bowe was in his prime and Lewis still a bit green, its a 5o/5o fight. I do lean towards Lewis though. Not just cos he stopped Bowe in the amatuers but also because Bowe`s style suited Lewis. Bigger heavies also allowed Lewis to hit straight instead of hitting downward and this would would favor Lewis. Also, Bowe was quite hittable throughout his career and i believe Bowe`s chin was overrated. He didn`t fight any true punchers in his first 34 fights. Holyfield was never a really hard puncher, Dokes was shot, Jesse Freguson?? Larry Donald can`t punch, Buster Mathias at 6 ko`s on his record, and Herbie Hide was banging Bowe around a bit for the first 2 rounds until Bowe caught him.
Jorge Luis Gonzales was crap, but then Holyfield drops him in their 3rd fight ( and hurts him bad! ), Golota drops and hurts him badly when they fought. Bottom line, Bowe didn`t really fight punchers and this could have been designed by Rock newman. So, Lewis was a great puncher, who stopped him in the amatuers, what happens in the pro`s?
Lewis KO 7