In 1992 newly crowned undisputed champion Riddick Bowe threw his WBC championship belt in the bin at a press conference held in London, the hometown of his mandatory challenger, Lennox Lewis.

Financial wranglings, WBC rulings and poor management all played a part in Bowe staging the theatrical relinquishment of the WBC belt. Bowe has said on camera that the whole ‘throwing the belt in the bin’ idea was his manager Rock Newman’s doing. Bowe trusted him, but later regretted the action.

At this time, Bowe had become the undisputed champion by beating Evander Holyfield in one of the great heavyweight fights. It was the first instalment of one of boxing’s finest trilogies.

At 25 years old, Bowe was at his peak. A short peak. His career was effectively over by the age of 29.

Bowe was 32–0. Lewis was 22–0 and had just blasted out Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock.

As we know, Lewis went on to become one of the best heavyweights of all time, but at this point, he was still relatively raw.

It was all set up. The two Olympic finalists from 1988 fighting it out for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.

To this day, it remains one of boxing’s great travesties that we never got to see this fight happen. As such, the debate will always rage over who would’ve won.

Bowe had just beaten Holyfield. Holyfield was a true warrior with the heart of a lion, but even after all he accomplished at heavyweight, he was naturally a cruiserweight. Amazingly, he only weighed 205 lbs in his first fight with Bowe.

It doesn’t take anything away from Bowe’s win, but Lewis would’ve been a whole different proposition.

A 16-stone athletic specimen with fantastic boxing ability, Lewis had it all. He was vulnerable at times. His two spectacular knockout defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman down the road highlight that. But he was dangerous, especially as a 22-0 undefeated prospect with 18 knockouts.

Lewis also had the confidence of knowing he had Bowe’s number in the amateurs. That Olympic gold medal, stopping Bowe in the final, was something he could hold over him.

Bowe had the confidence of being King of the Hill. Undisputed champion at 25 years old, representing Brownsville, Brooklyn. The home of his fellow boxing compatriot Mike Tyson, who was incarcerated at the time.

Lewis finished his career with a stellar C.V.

A two-time heavyweight champion who cleaned out everyone in the division. His win over Tyson was slightly tainted by the fact Tyson was way past his best. But in all honesty, Tyson’s peak was short-lived, and he never looked like the wrecking machine he once was since his loss to Buster Douglas in 1990.

The Bowe v Lewis fight would have taken place before Lewis linked up with Emmanuel Steward. Steward turned his jab into a real weapon and brought more discipline to his game.

It’s such a hard fight to call. Which makes it all the more frustrating that it never took place.

If we’re judging them by their careers, there’s only one winner, and that’s Lewis.

I’m a huge admirer of Lewis. But in 1993, having just become undisputed heavyweight champion, before the real struggles with discipline and weight fluctuation came into play, I’m backing Bowe to win a close points decision.

Let me know your thoughts.

Images: Getty