Riddick Bowe Versus: 1998-2004 Heavies

Tier 1 opponents:
Lennox Lewis
Vitali Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Byrd
James Toney
John Ruiz

Tier 2 opponents:
Mike Tyson
Lamon Brewster
David Tua
Hasim Rahman
Jameel McCline
Sam Peter
Michael Grant

Tier 3 opponents:
Oliver McCall
Fres Oquendo
Kirk Johnson

Obviously I had left out Evander Holyfield & Andrew Galota as he had already fought them but if you want to add them feel free.

But anyway, it occured to be that it was quite possible that Bowe (if he was still doing his thing during say 2001) could loose to well over 50% of fighters on that list which surprised me, I just wondered if anyone else has it the same way ???

Bowe had a wonderful night against Holyfield, his best. After the Holyfield defeat he went on another good run beating undefeated B level fighter like Gonzales, Hide and Buster Matthis. The rest he was shaky. Peak Bowe could beat all but Lewis and the Klits during that time.

So its if Bowe had continued his career on and not a "Prime" Bowe...

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

Tier 1 opponents:
Lennox Lewis - Lewis by KO, no doubt about it
Vitali Klitschko - Same as above, Bowe NEVER fought a power puncher like that
Wladimir Klitschko - Wlad by UD/late stoppage. If Golota schooled Bowe then Wlad would really put the hurt on him.
Chris Byrd - 50/50 fight, Byrd was slick but had no power
James Toney - Toney by UD too slick and very good counter puncher
John Ruiz - I think Ruiz takes it, he's very difficult to beat especially for an older Bowe

Tier 2 opponents:
Mike Tyson - Tyson would have a great shot early, but if it went past 6 Tyson would get stopped. 50/50 fight.
Lamon Brewster - Brewster by UD in a war!
David Tua - Tua by late TKO behind on all cards
Hasim Rahman - Bowe by decision
Jameel McCline - McCline by UD, let's face it he had a good streak where he won some big fights.
Sam Peter - 50/50 fight, Peter was a big puncher and could take a punch too
Michael Grant - Bowe by KO, he may have been old but Riddick still had a killer instinct.

Tier 3 opponents:
Oliver McCall - Bowe UD, McCall always fell short in big fights.
Fres Oquendo - Oquendo by SD or Bowe by stoppage
Kirk Johnson - Bowe by stoppage

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The closer I look at Bowe's career the less impressed I am. Bowe was impressive vs pretty lackluster competition and the Holyfield fights were amazing, but he got old quick and after Holyfield never really fought dangerous competition.

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Originally Posted by Master

Bowe had a wonderful night against Holyfield, his best. After the Holyfield defeat he went on another good run beating undefeated B level fighter like Gonzales, Hide and Buster Matthis. The rest he was shaky. Peak Bowe could beat all but Lewis and the Klits during that time.

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Agreed. He also beats Wlad imo and has a chance (on his best night) against Lewis and Vitali.

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Originally Posted by BIG H

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Originally Posted by Master

Bowe had a wonderful night against Holyfield, his best. After the Holyfield defeat he went on another good run beating undefeated B level fighter like Gonzales, Hide and Buster Matthis. The rest he was shaky. Peak Bowe could beat all but Lewis and the Klits during that time.

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Agreed. He also beats Wlad imo and has a chance (on his best night) against Lewis and Vitali.

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I just think Bowe was too technically flawed to beat those guys, he'd willingly give up height and reach. Sure Bowe was good on the inside, but those guys know how to neutralize that by tying up and pushing off. Bowe's defense was nonexistent and I think his chin was overrated...Golota stung him a few times and not below the belt either!

Yeah, Bowe was a good fighter but he was lazy and never used all his talent. he got hit a lot of times that he shouldnt which is why the poor guy is in poor shape today.


I still think he beats Wlad, loses to Vitali (but what a war that would be) loses to Lewis and also loses to prime Tyson.

Motivated and with Eddie Futch I give a chance against anyone. He beats the Lewis prior to Manny. I think he would struggle and probably lose against both Klitschkos especially Vitali. He would beat tier 2 and 3; His inside game was good enough to handle Tyson's early onslaught.

Are we talking the post 98 Bowe who was hit on like a drum and near punch drunk after Golota here ??? I struggle to see him handling most of those guys, really.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Are we talking the post 98 Bowe who was hit on like a drum and near punch drunk after Golota here ??? I struggle to see him handling most of those guys, really.

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That's what the original post lead me to believe. In which case Wlad pummels Bowe like he pummeled Mercer.

Andrew Golota boxed Bowe's ears off and you guys are going to tell me Wlad couldn't one up Golota???

No poster is talking about prime Bowe, early 1990's, he was finished by 1998.

I'll admit i haven't seen a lot on Bowe apart from some of the big fights mentioned here and read reports of others and the Bowe/Lewis story is well known.

It seems to me that Bowe at his best was amazing and had some great fights but lacked consistency. He didn't realise his full potential or if he did he couldn't maintain it for certain reasons. To me he probably never lived a very disciplined lifestyle and that would not have helped prolong his career at the highest level, the fact he has had fights in recent years and can't let go shows this too.

Prior to Bowe becoming fat, lazy and clearly unmotivated he had the size and skill to give any HW of any era a good fight. His biggest problem was not using his size and being drug into a slugfests when he could use his height/size and jab to stay out of trouble. So for arguments sake I think we are calling Bowe's prime around the same time he beat Holy in their first fight (1990-92)

Tier 1 opponents:
Lennox Lewis - I think Bowe's size and skill would give Lennox problems but the patient Lewis that Manny made would have fought smart and avoided mixing it up. Winning either with a late stoppage or UD. Interesting that these two's prime was so far apart.
Vitali Klitschko - Bowe would have been drug into a slugfest and I am betting on Vlad being the stronger puncher and tougher of the two. Mid round KO for Vitali
Wladimir Klitschko - I think Bowe wins this with a late KO. Wlad is chinny and Bowe had the size and talent to hit him hard and often.
Chris Byrd - 1991 Bowe KO's Chris Byrd ala Ike style
James Toney - Tough call and I am not sure when Toney's HW prime is, but I think Bowe from 1991 could out work Toney and win an uneventful UD/SD
John Ruiz - I don't think Ruiz would be able to wrestle a SD away from a fit and motivated 91 Bowe. Bowe late round stoppage.
Tier 2 opponents:
Mike Tyson - I'm calling this a push. If Tyson couldn't overwhelm in the first 6 I think Bowe's size and jab would end the fight in the championship rounds. Hard to say if a 1991 Bowe had the experience to weather a bull-rushing Mike.
Lamon Brewster - Bowe by KO inside of 5 rounds
David Tua - This is either Bowe by a boring UD or Tua with a 12 round KO after losing every round
Hasim Rahman - Bowe by KO and it wouldn't be close
Jameel McCline - See Rahman
Sam Peter - Bowe by UD. Peter is too limited to beat a big talented heavy like 91' Bowe
Michael Grant - Bowe by crushing KO in round 5.

Tier 3 opponents: Bowe by KO for all of them.
Oliver McCall -
Fres Oquendo -
Kirk Johnson -

DAMN! Oliver McCall just got knocked out ya'll!

;D

No seriously, nice list. The purpose of the thread was to get an idea from people about how they felt Bowe would do if he hadn't quit boxing in 96 and carried on into the early noughties which of course would never be anything like his prime but it's interesting to see peoples opinion on the earlier Bowe all the same.

I missed Corrie Sanders off the list :(

I also think Bowe would give James Toney a lot of problems because of his inside game, size, reach & natural strength.

Oddly enough though, I reckon McCline absolutely destroys him...

No body, never mind Bowe, knocks out Oliver McCall.