Riddick Bowe vs Lennox Lewis

[RAZZ-MCFC]

The fight that never happened. I'm unsure if there's a thread in here already but couldn't see one. I realise this could also go in fantasy fights but as it was a fight that could have actually been made, and not just one that people spectate about, i think it's more relevant to the history section.

 

How do you guys think a fight between them would have played out?

 

Personally, and because i'm such a big Lennox fan, i think Lewis would of stayed behind his jab and used the range to outpoint Bowe. Bowe's only loss was to Holyfield on the cards and i think if Holyfield is capable of outboxing Bowe, then Lennox certainly is.

 

Lennox UD for me!

 

Although there's no way i'd write Bowe off, he definitely had the power and ability to knock Lewis out, but technically, i don't think he was as good as Lewis nor would he be able to beat him on the cards.

[donlevy]

As I posted on another thread over at livefight,I just think Bowe was a better fighter during that time and would have beaten Lewis.I'd favour the improved Lewis of the second half of the decade though.

[Joe Ko]

I agree with Levy Id pick Riddick Bowe aswell

[Sheils]

I think Lewis would have taken this fight. Was it not the case that Bowe refused to fight Lewis and cast his WBC belt into the bin? If so, then maybe Bowe knew that Lewis was a live wire capable of beating him, which he did in Seoul.

 

Fairly early in his career, Lewis made a mess of Razor Ruddock, someone who I thought would be a tough match for him. I'd give Lewis the edge over Bowe at all stages throughout their pro careers.

[WelshDevilRob]

I never rated Riddick Bowe as much as the hype he received from the US.

 

While he had a decent jab, he was pretty flatfooted and sluggish. I don't rate him as a big hitter at Heavyweight. Decent power but nothing more. He was easy enough to hit and often fought smaller opponents who lacked genuine power. Golota and Gonzalez are the exception.

 

There was no good reason not to fight Lewis the 1st time but Team Bowe didn't honour their part and I believe its because they didn't believe that Bowe could beat his nemesis Lewis.

 

I see Lewis stopping Bowe in about 8 rounds. Quicker movement and that big right hand not missing, see him victorious in an entertaining fight.

[RAZZ-MCFC]

I never rated Riddick Bowe as much as the hype he received from the US.

 

While he had a decent jab, he was pretty flatfooted and sluggish. I don't rate him as a big hitter at Heavyweight. Decent power but nothing more. He was easy enough to hit and often fought smaller opponents who lacked genuine power. Golota and Gonzalez are the exception.

 

There was no good reason not to fight Lewis the 1st time but Team Bowe didn't honour their part and I believe its because they didn't believe that Bowe could beat his nemesis Lewis.

 

I see Lewis stopping Bowe in about 8 rounds. Quicker movement and that big right hand not missing, see him victorious in an entertaining fight.

 

Golota had Bowe out in his feet in their rematch before he got DQ'd!

 

If Golota can do that to Bowe imagine what Lennox would do to him.

 

I'm with Sheils. I'd favour Lennox heavily at any stage in their careers.

[Wheelchair]

Lewis easily. Bowe was shit-scared of Lewis. And remember, if Tony Tubbs could beat Bowe (as many thought he did, but didn't get the nod), what do you think Lennox would have done to him?

 

Riddick would never have fought again after the beating Lewis would've given him. It would have been a total slaughter, Bowe was overprotected, and beat an off form Holyfield to win the title. Bowe's somewhat mythical status is totally undeserved, and a vicious, savage and murderous beating the like of which he'd have got from Lewis, would probably have tipped him over the edge into mental breakdown even sooner.

[McBride]

Lennox easily did him in the Ama's, and nothing suggests he couldn't have done the same in the Pro's.

 

Unfortunately not a yank, and therefore one of the most underestimated Heavies of all time. Beats any American Heavyweight who ever lived, without even trying, including my hero Ali, please dont even mention the idiot Tyson beating him, as its like believing in god, no one has seen it, but they want to think its there.

[RAZZ-MCFC]

Lennox easily did him in the Ama's, and nothing suggests he couldn't have done the same in the Pro's.

 

Unfortunately not a yank, and therefore one of the most underestimated Heavies of all time. Beats any American Heavyweight who ever lived, without even trying, including my hero Ali, please dont even mention the idiot Tyson beating him, as its like believing in god, no one has seen it, but they want to think its there.

 

Tyson wouldn't beat Lennox in any era. Tyson lost his head whenever he came up against somebody who he couldn't bully into submission and that could box a la Holyfield. Lennox would KO him 9 times out 10 i reckon.

[Wheelchair]

Lennox easily did him in the Ama's, and nothing suggests he couldn't have done the same in the Pro's.

 

Unfortunately not a yank, and therefore one of the most underestimated Heavies of all time. Beats any American Heavyweight who ever lived, without even trying, including my hero Ali, please dont even mention the idiot Tyson beating him, as its like believing in god, no one has seen it, but they want to think its there.

 

Tyson wouldn't beat Lennox in any era. Tyson lost his head whenever he came up against somebody who he couldn't bully into submission and that could box a la Holyfield. Lennox would KO him 9 times out 10 i reckon.

 

Tyson's only chance would have been to catch Lennox early, after that he gets broken down and stopped. It would be a tense few rounds though if Lewis made the mistake of starting slowly, he'd have to be on Tyson right away. Remember, Mike's handspeed in his prime was very fast, but a fast starting Lewis should have been able to keep him at bay.

[RAZZ-MCFC]

Lennox easily did him in the Ama's, and nothing suggests he couldn't have done the same in the Pro's.

 

Unfortunately not a yank, and therefore one of the most underestimated Heavies of all time. Beats any American Heavyweight who ever lived, without even trying, including my hero Ali, please dont even mention the idiot Tyson beating him, as its like believing in god, no one has seen it, but they want to think its there.

 

Tyson wouldn't beat Lennox in any era. Tyson lost his head whenever he came up against somebody who he couldn't bully into submission and that could box a la Holyfield. Lennox would KO him 9 times out 10 i reckon.

 

Tyson's only chance would have been to catch Lennox early, after that he gets broken down and stopped. It would be a tense few rounds though if Lewis made the mistake of starting slowly, he'd have to be on Tyson right away. Remember, Mike's handspeed in his prime was very fast, but a fast starting Lewis should have been able to keep him at bay.

 

Out of interest James, and this can be answered by anybody who wants to as well, where would you rank Lennox in your all time top 10 of heavyweights?

[Wheelchair]

He'd have to be in the top five as he beat everyone put in front of him, and avenged his only defeats. Gene Tunney was the only other Heavyweight champion to avenge his losses, no one else did.

 

My ranking would be...

 

1. Ali

2. Louis

3. Lennox

4. Dempsey

5. Marciano

[londoner]

It's a known fact Bowe's team didn't want to fight Lewis. Bowe also lost to Lewis as amateurs. And IMO Lewis had a far more accomplished career and more skill. Bowe had a lot of fights in a small period of time. He made his debut in 1989 and was finished by 1996. Take his two fights with Golota: He was losing twice to him until the latter was DQ'd. Like Rahman and McCall, Bowe would have had a puncher's chance but i think Lewis wins on points.