Lennox Lewis vs. Riddick Bowe in Gold-Medal Round at 1988 Seoul Olympic Games 

How can you stop that fight ???!! That's Insane !!

Seoul 1988 gave birth to the following world champions: Roy Jones Jr., Henry Maske, Ray Mercer, Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, Michael Carbajal and Kennedy McKinney.

Well, really so precious and high defination video!! Rare to see, thumbs up~

What a great referee. Must have had money on Lennox.

Soft spoken Lennox Lewis at his best was the total package. The last undisputed Heavyweight champion emerged as cream of the crop against some of the biggest punchers in Heavyweight history. Lennox avenged his only two defeats by knockout. He didn't make excuses for his losses, he said, *"It's Heavyweights, you can get caught, but i won the rematches in style,"* and *"Show me a Heavyweight champion without a loss and i'll show you a fighter that fought a lot of nobodies."* In my opinion Lennox Lewis is the GOAT. To hear 58 year old Lennox talk so clearly and eloquently after going up against 18 Heavyweight Champions is remarkable. The 18 HW Champions Lewis faced: *Vitali Klitschko, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Shannon Briggs, Frank Bruno, Tony Tucker, Hasim Rahman, Oliver McCall, Mike Weaver, Henry Akinwande, Tommy Morrison and Ray Mercer were later recognized as WBO champions, British HW champion Gary Mason, European HW champion Jean Chanet, Commonwealth HW champion Derek Williams, Canada HW champion Razor Ruddock, IBF/WBF HW champion Michael Grant and WBC International HW champion David Tua* [[ technically not all were 'World' champions but champions nonetheless ]] *Other notable mentions; Olympic HW Silver medalist Riddick Bowe, Olympic HW Gold medalist Tyrell Briggs, Andrew Golota, Zeljko Mavrovic, Frans Botha and Phil Jackson*

It's funny how at the time this fight was taking place, Lennox's former sparring partner Mike Tyson had been the reigning Heavyweight Champion of the world for two years, having become champion at the ripe old age of 20 in 1986.

Lennox was definitely dominating here but that stoppage was abysmal, fight should've went on to a proper conclusion

88' was probably one of the best boxing class ever.

That ref ruined our only chance at ever seeing these two go

lewis is underestimated. he deserves more respect.

Great quality!

Premature stoppage- absolutely ridiculous ref 💯

Thank you for original audio and not adding music

the man eating lion of tsavo is a savage beast!

No way you can judge the 88 Olympics between Lewis and Bowe to professional. They were kids right here. They both got way better. Lewis was a animal and Bowe went so hard in the paint. I still would've favored Bowe 5 years or so later 💯

He wasn't even that hurt he got stunned Riddick Bowe they robbed him because he was American this was a fix because Bowe wasn't hurt

That ref was shady!!! 💰🤣

Why stop the fight .

I don't consider this fight anything worth watching for gauging how a Lewis vs Bowe would have been in 1992. They both stunned each other and they were both exchanging well. I remember these times in those crappy olympic rules.

Ref should not have stopped the fight. But Lewis would've probably still won.

I knew in this fight. Great things were ahead for Lewis, 💯

I don’t have a dog in this fight, and I’m not a huge fan of either, but that stoppage was garbage!

Terrible, terrible Ref..... The 1988 Olympic boxing tournament was notoriously marred with controversy mainly for the horrendous judging decisions, but this was a clear example of an awful referee. All credit to both boxers who both clearly came to win but only one of the counts you could say was justified and having watched the incident on repeat several times I still have no idea why Bowe was deducted a point. Also the stoppage was abysmal, no stoppage required. It's such a shame that referee's of this abysmal standard were allowed to ref the biggest fights in amateur boxing......

Good fight , both got big shots in...Bowe s jab is like a right hand. I can see why the stoppage will bring so much debate

For those that say bowe ducked Lewis read below. He signed to fight him but Lewis was destroyed by Oliver McCall in 1994

This explains a lot and I feel for both boxers - they were denied justice through a referee that was clearly corrupt and incompetent - I hope they both find peace with each other as they both deserve that respect

Pretty sure Mike Tyson would've thrashed them both at this time

No reason for this stoppage. Terrible ref. Bowe was fine.

Bowe has a big heart

The first round is always a feeler round to guage your opponents skills. Both each seemed to stagger each other in the first round but lennox seemed to land more clean shots and combos. The second round lennox seemed to adapt and rocked him right away staggering him and sending his head bouncing back and his body into the ropes. Then a minute later he did it again with a quick 2 hit combo. You gotta remember they got head gear on in a real fight hed be knocked out. I think thats why he didnt wanna fight lewis later on and threw the belt away he knew lennox was trouble figured him out in 2 rounds.

Bowe way superior. Better sparring. Ref killed Bowe desire to fight. To my opinion, Lewis team has corrupted the ref.

These guys were way bigger when they were Pro

The referee was horrible !!! He should never be aloud to Ref a fight ever again , the gold medal was on the line !! I’m a Lewis Fan but that fight should of never been stopped !!!

That was the worst stoppage Ive ever seen.

This is dreadful! Manny and Futch really brought out the best in these two.

Let's talk, how much money did take the ref from Lewis corner.

Ouch no wonder Bowe dodged Lewis in the pro's. PTSD from getting completely owned start to finish.

The play by play is some of the worst ever! These guys keep yapping, missing hard punches and exchanges!!!

Good job , Bowe got himself to blame

I always thought Lennox was British….didn’t know he was Canadian.

Nah man that ref should have let them continue but Bowe didn't convince the ref he could continue.

The ref should have not stop the fight smh Bowe wasn’t hurt his legs was strong.

Ref saved Bowe from the humiliation of being knocked out. A shame they didn't face each other in the pros, but this was of course due to Bowe's camp refusing to fight Lewis and this video is a good indicator as to why.

1:14

Young Lewis won😮

Canadian???... Thought Lenox was representing the England...

Lewis wins all day but that stoppage was awful

I think Lennox would have stopped him anyway but still ridiculous stoppage

Drink Champs sent me here

Lewis is a crybaby and that ref should NEVER get in the ring again.

WTF!

Bowe was cheated by the ref in this fight.

and then disappears from canada for ever....

Lewis used to spar with the young Mike Tyson and hold his own so this was easy prey. Was a premature stoppage though

Cuba wasn't in those games. Stevenson could get a victory easily over Louis. But great victory at the end.

No doubt if bout not stopped Lennox might well have dropped him. Riddick showed no D or stamina here. He nosedived from the get-go in the 2nd.

That was some bullshit stoppage

no match for 1988 Iron Mike..

This is why Bowe avoided Lewis during their pro days

Chicken Bowe

What a terrible decision ... 😂😂😂

Uno degli arbitraggi peggiori della storia, spero che l'avessero licenziato almeno

Awful referee.

Just horrible

Lewis was a bully and Bowe was too afraid.

perfect robbery. and the liar lewis spent his whole life bragging about this garbage.

Bowe did ok until the stoppage

Bowe was just a young stringbean back then . He would have beat Lewis in the pros

Scared Bowe was frightened to fight Lewis in the pro game! Bowe destroyed by Lewis in this Olympic final. Bowe looked awful !! Lewis was a far far superior boxer!!

Bad stoppage, Bowe was landing the uppercut and hook and Lewis obviously didn't hurt him that bad (check out the raised arms, bouncing Bowe). Bowe only turned down Lewis in the pros because his manager was a greedy person.

THIS FIGHT TELL S YOU WHY BOWE WOULD NEVER FIGHT LEWIS AGAIN COS WITHOUT WEARING HELMETS BOWE KNEW THAT LEWIS WOULD KNOCK HIM SPARK OUT HENCE THE NAME CHICKEN BOWE!!!!!

Bowe was robbed