Riddick Bowe Versus: 1998-2004 Heavies

[El Kabong]

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.

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

[Master]

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

[armyash]

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.

[VictorCharlie]

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 -