Riddick Bowe vs. Joe Louis

I’d lean towards Bowe in an exciting slugfest.

 

Bowe is way too wide open for Louis. He went life and death with Holyfield and Louis was better, stronger puncher with not very dissimilar style.

Louis by stoppage.

 

The issue with that comparison (not trying to be rude) is Evander was so much more durable, stronger and larger thus he could handle Bowe in the clinches and spoil in desperate moments something Louis would not have the valuable privilege of. I personally don’t think Louis is durable enough to win in any toe to toe engagement with Riddick.

Though I do not rule out Louis- just not in a fire fight.

 

I heavily favour Bowe in that instance-

 

You are opening a potential Pandora’s box- perhaps this will reach the 100 page mark in the league of the maddening Vitali vs Evander thread or the thread that shall not be named.

 

I'd favor Louis. Bowe is a wide open target and one could only take so many of Joe's blows. He was so fast and accurate too and once he hurt you....

 

Louis hit a hell of a lot harder than Holyfield, and there was next to nothing between them in terms of size.

If Bowe is taking combinations like that form Louis, he is not going to just soak them up!

 

Louis by ko 10, in a fight where Joe gets dropped and hurt badly. Scorecard s show Riddick ahead at the end.

 

He seemed to be more durable, but Louis was very, very hard to stop. Occasional knockdown wouldn't mean anything against Louis, because he was rarely in trouble. The idea that Louis had weak chin is ridiculous...

Holyfield wasn't stronger or larger though...

Louis was much smarter fighter though, much more accurate and had much better defense. Max Baer was also more durable and more powerful than him and Louis made a quick work out of him.

 

Louis is kind of like a rich man's Holyfield, I like him in this fight

 

Bowe has no advantages other than size and what comes with it. Louis conclusively proved that is not enough to beat him. Bowe proved that he has a poor defence and wasn't George Chuvalo.

Louis stops him.

 

Holyfield was taller, heavier and had a longer reach. How wasn't he bigger?

And Holyfield was a freak of nature with his strength. He out-muscled guys like Rahman, Tyson, Cooper and Mercer. And held his own vs guys like Lewis and Bowe. Louis' strength was tested by Arturo Godot. And he clearly wasn't physically imposing himself vs his super-heavy opponents like Holyfield was.

No-one is much more accurate than Holyfield. He's one of the most accurate heavyweights ever.

 

I concur with the posters who are picking Joe Louis and for many of the same reasons. The hand speed and skill level of Joe Louis + Bowe’s poor defense would make for Riddick absorbing too much punishment early. Louis also survived the battering of some pretty big punchers himself and could go 15 rounds.

 

Louis was definitely more accurate. Holyfield grew his head like Barry Bonds. He'd be less than with the PEDs/steroids.