Is Bowe in your top 20 heavyweights list

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Eye of Timaeus, Sep 6, 2019.



  1. Eye of Timaeus

    Eye of Timaeus Well-Known Member Full Member

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    If so where do put him.
     
  2. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    1. Ali
    2. Louis
    3. Holmes
    4. Holyfield
    5. Lewis
    6. Foreman
    7. Marciano
    8. Tyson
    9. Frazier
    10. Wlad
    11. Dempsey
    12. Johnson
    13. Liston
    14. Vitali
    15. Bowe
    16. Charles
    17. Walcott
    18. Patterson
    19. Fitzsimmons
    20. Norton

    I remember hesitating a bit putting Bowe over Ezzard Charles. The rest is as is.
     
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  3. Tonto62

    Tonto62 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Good question.
    He probably makes my top 15, along with ,in no order.
    Ali
    Lewis
    Louis
    Dempsey
    Marciano
    Holyfield
    Tyson
    Liston
    Holmes
    Johnson
    Foreman
    Wlad
    Vitali
    Frazier
     
  4. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    For resume, I'd have him below:

    Sullivan
    Fitzsimmons
    Jeffries
    Johnson
    Dempsey
    Schmeling
    Louis
    Charles
    Marciano
    Patterson
    Liston
    Ali
    Frazier
    Foreman
    Holmes
    Tyson
    Holyfield
    Lewis
    Wladimir

    Only among lineal champions, that's already 19. Not to mention some of the best non-lineal champions, so it's unlikely I have him in my top 20.
     
  5. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think that's perfectly fair. Beating a super hot, prime, undefeated Holyfield (even twice, though in my eyes Holy never beat Bowe) was a huge accomplishment at the time, and even in retrospect (considering both Holy's making Tyson look lame and holding a red-hot Lewis to two not-entirely-consummate 12 round decisions) it's huge.

    Take that and the fact that Bowe beat some good contenders and ex-champions, not to mention winning the title twice (the second time from a way underrated Herbie Hide, a freeking excellent by ******edly small heavyweight imo).

    After writing that I'm tempted to place him higher, but he's got some HUGE names ahead of him.

    Bowe is one of my top ten favorite fighters, easy.
     
  6. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Cool list! No Norton?
     
  7. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    As I said, that's only lineal champions list. Someone like Norton (and quite a few others) has a case over Bowe too.
     
  8. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Sorry, I didn't read properly. I can't quite put Ken over Bowe (though I can easily see why anyone would).

    I love both of those fighters.
     
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  9. Gatekeeper

    Gatekeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

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    You can only justify having him outside the top ten if you favour longevity over single wins and talent. He beat a prime Holyfield and again a still very good EH who had just beaten Ray Mercer, went on to demolish Tyson and avenge his loss to Moorer.
    Me pesonally I'll take that over Wlad and Vitali spending ten years winning snoozefests over the likes of Chagaev and Adamek.
     
  10. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The Klitschkos presented a problem for me. Still, they beat the people put in front of them...in my eyes Lewis was losing that one fight before they stopped it.

    I just can't put Riddick above them...they pretty much commandeered the division for so long. Bowe got blown out before 30, the Golota fights were sad as hell imo. Also aggravating as hell, because Bowe was getting horribly beat, especially in the second one. They should have at least ruled those fight no-contest.

    I don't know what happened to Bowe; he was such a personable, well-spoken young man as champ. If it really was down to lack of concentration and disregard for what it took to fight at an elite level...that's actually kind of ignorant, isn't it?

    Bowe was SO good...a terrible tragedy for boxing, imo.
     
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  11. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Got him at 30. The thing with Bowe is he started to decline JUST after he beat Holyfield the first time. He had so much going for him to with good boxing ability, decent punching Power and seemed to be able to take a shot. Shame really. But the title winning version Bowe would get a win over some big names imo.
     
  12. Heisenberg

    Heisenberg Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Biggest tragedy is that Bowe’s peak lasted just one night. We saw the best Bowe in the first fight with Holyfield and that guy was never seen again. Definitely top 20 but on ability he coulda, shoulda, woulda been a top 10 ATG great
     
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  13. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Yes...not sure where i place him though
     
  14. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member Full Member

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    Top 20 ... probably. I've never made a top 20 but it doesnt seem unreasonable.
     
  15. Oddone

    Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

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    Its not so much Bowe as it’s that the guys above him had a longer more distinguished career. I’d put him somewhere between 30-20.
     
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