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Few will forget that moment in the early 1990’s when Riddick Bowe was shown throwing his WBC title in the garbage can after he refused to defend against Lennox Lewis. The Brit ended up facing Donovan Ruddock for the vacant title, who he knocked out in two rounds at Earl’s Court in London.
Bowe had not long been coming off a thrilling win over Evander Holyfield that generated another two fights that concluded with Bowe winning two out of the three contests. And he deservedly had to ship a lot of criticism after his refusal to face Lewis. But the good thing is it gives us a chance to speculate what would have happened had the two actually met in the ring.
If you know anything about the history between those two guys, then you probably realise that Lewis beat and stopped Bowe in the amateurs after the American could not figure out a way to deal with the huge right hand of his opponent. I have no doubts about that being a factor as to why the two boxers never met professionally. Boxing is approximately ninety percent mental and about ten percent physical. Some combatants can overcome the psychological scars of defeat while others cannot.
So, what would have happened in an alternate universe?
I believe that Bowe would never have recovered from that loss when he was younger and would have been unable to figure out a way to overcome Lewis. Every boxer has, what they call, a “boogeyman.” That is, an opponent that any particular fighter cannot beat no matter what.
It was heavily surmised that Bowe had enough talent to become one of the greatest boxers in history. But while he had the size and talent, he evidently showed that he did not have the hunger and passion to become one. He also sometimes lacked discipline, something Lewis had no trouble with.
I guess what should be taken into account is that Bowe would have faced Lewis at a time when he was yet to be trained by Emmanuel Steward. But what happened in the amateurs proves that is quite irrelevant. Everybody would agree that Lewis became a much better and polished boxer under Steward’s wing. But it would not be a factor.
Lewis would still conclusively win. And win by a knockout.
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