Riddick Bowe vs Ron Lyle Primes

I'm going for Riddick ,but close fight.

 

50/50 fight,, I'm wondering who has the edge in power here? I think Lyle has and that could be the difference

 

Both were awesome brawlers. Very powerful and very tough, and understandably would be a big fight. I think this would be a great inside fight. I love Lyle a lot, but I favor Bowe in this fight. Bowe in a bruising 12-rounder by SD.

 

Hmm, this idea interests me. Because Bowe definitely had power.

When I first checked this topic out, I thought Bowe would wreck Lyle in 8 at the most. But how many times did Bowe fight a puncher like Lyle? I keep seeing Foreman getting off the floor, blood beneath him on the canvas...

You got me reconsidering, Reinhardt.

 

That's a good point I never thought of Rules. If Holyfield and Golota could floor Bowe, imagine what Lyle could do to him.... I might have to reverse my opinion on this. Lyle fought several big punchers. He knocked out Shavers, he almost knocked out Foreman. Bonavena and Bugner were decent hitters as well. Although both were capable of going 12 and doing well at it, a fight btwn these two big punchers has got to end in a knockout (most likely). In that case I would pick either man (50/ 50) for a knockout btwn 5 and 8. Both men down a couple times.

 

I generally go for the great fighter but a lot of Bowe's career was manufactured, and they definitely steered him from the big punchers until Golata. And I actually believe, though I have no proof, that some of Bowe's brain damage happened in the amateurs.

 

And Golota was not one of the best punchers of the 90s either. Certainly not like Tyson, McCall, or Mercer. Cooper was a big puncher, but Bowe didn't give him a chance in their fight.

 

This is true. Good point.

 

I'd favor Bowe at his best.

 

Bowe UD in a very exciting slug fest. Lyle had good fundamentals and punching mechanics. His skills were often overlooked, as is his stamina and jab. He could box as well as slug on the inside.

I favor Bowe however due the fact he had even better fundamentals under the cunning Eddie Futch. He had a very heavy jab with long range and is the best inside fighter since Frazier. Both guys were tough and had lots of stamina but both could get sloppy and lacking in defense. If it comes to that, Bowe should win since he managed to overcome a prime Holyfield whose not far off from a prime Lyle in terms of rugged rough house tactics strength and slugging goes (and Holyfield was the overall better fighter than Lyle even if he didn't have as much raw punching power and natural size).

Bowe might get floored, but he was always and got up even when he was past his prime and out shape against Golota. Lyle was brave and relentless too, always getting off the floor. They'd be smothering each other's punches, so that's why I see it going the distance. Maybe 1 or 2 knock downs a piece at best.