Former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis admits he almost SLAPPED Riddick Bowe at Fury weigh-in
Pair have feuded since 1988 when Lewis scored a stoppage victory against Bowe in the Olympic Games to claim the gold - though they never fought as pros
LENNOX LEWIS revealed he almost “slapped” old foe Riddick Bowe at the Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury weigh in.
The two former heavyweight kings have feuded since 1988, when Lewis scored a stoppage victory against Bowe in the Seoul Olympic Games to claim the gold medal.
Four years later Lewis was mandated for Bowe’s WBC title - only for the champion to famously dump it in the bin, and the rivals never met in the pro ranks.
Fast forward to December 2018 and Showtime organised the pair, as well as “Buster” Douglas, Earnie Shavers, Evander Holyfield, and Michael Spinks to make an appearance together at the Wilder vs Fury weigh in.
Former undisputed champ Lewis explained to Complex he almost came to blows with Bowe and refused to sit next to him when organisers had the pair seated together.
Lewis said: “The only [past opponent] I actually almost slapped would be Riddick Bowe.
“Everybody else, from Mike Tyson to the Klitschko brothers, we are all friends. We are brothers in arms. We understand that was then and this is now.
“Riddick Bowe has been saying a lot of stuff about me, and then, all of a sudden, he wanted to come stand beside me.
“And I’m like, ‘Dude, you can’t stand beside me.’ Simple as that. And there were a couple of more words than that. It wasn’t going to go off."
Current WBC king Wilder insisted after he KO’d Dominic Breazeale that he will avoid another Lewis and Bowe scenario by making a “promise” to fight unified champ Anthony Joshua.
Wilder said: "It will happen. I don't want this to be a Lennox and Bowe situation.
"It's our obligation to give the fans what they want. The negotiations are going to come round again on that deal we were discussing.
"I promise it will happen."