It’s a toss up fight, but I’d lean towards Bowe, due to his size, skills and speed. Wlad would have had a hard time tying him up. I’d have given an early version of Wlad more of a chance. That would have been an absolute classic. Yes, it’s a shame that Bowe was finished in 1996. He didn’t have any longevity. You can’t really say he avoided a Tyson fight though. Mike didn’t fight for 3.5 years, and then Bowe retired the year after his release from prison. I wish we’d have seen the fight with Lennox.
This. There would be an interesting exchange of jabs early on. Wlad wouid be very discouraged learning he can't hold Bowe very easy, plus he quickly finds that trying anything on the inside is hopeless. Once Bowe starts landing with the overhand right it's just a matter of time.
Agreed. I just imagine Wlad getting clouted on his way in for the embrace and then roughed up in the clinch. Wlad's best bet would be to use his longer-range left-hook, which he did throw with bad intentions. It would come at risk but at least he'd be giving Bowe something to think about and perhaps creating some other openings in the process, whereby he'd gain the confidence to let the heavy right-hand go.
The same Bowe that got his clocked cleaned by a worse boxer and verifiable headcase in Golota? Bowe only stands a chance because he can absorb punishment. Bowe is not going to do well at all.
Bowe had the size, the confidence and the in-fighting abilities. Bowe wasn’t perfect. Nobody is. But Bowe threw combinations. Bowe could fight. He was aggressive. Wlad was a boxer, who needed Manny to really push him to be aggressive against certain guys. Again, of course we can say that Wlad was levels above Golota. Of course. But at the same time, we can say that Bowe was on another level to the likes of a crude Peter, who had Wlad hanging on, and pretty much everybody else who dropped Wlad. I’d definitely be taking the more confident guy, over a really cautious one who literally saw the canvas 12 times in his career.
Bowe wins within 8. Wlad will attempt his jab, jab, hug, hold nonsense and Bowe will hurt him on the inside and in the clinch.
Wlad would take his head off. Bowe was just way too easy to hit. His style might work against a CW he outweighs by 40lbs but not a big, athletic quick SHW with a dynamite straight right (Bowe's kryptonite).
Davarryl Williamson? Sam Peter? Really? Replace those guys with Bowe and Wlad goes looking for that canvas soft spot!
I'm not as high on Bowe as alot of people on this forum, he had alot difficulty vs washed up versions of Tubbs, Biggs, in his prime. Avoided pretty much all the known Heavyweight punches of the 90s, and never really showed he could beat a good skilled big man. But saying all that i don't think Wladimir could avoid Bowe for 12 rounds, with his workrate and big right hand. And i think at some point before 10th round, after Wladimir has success outboxing Bowe with his jab, gets caught and thats all she wrote for Wladimir. Bowe had good finishing skills and was clinical enough to finish the job, once he finally finds Wladimir's weak chin.
Bowe lands right handed bombs on Wladimir's less than stellar chin and thats all she wrote. He has the height and reach to get to Wlad and Wlad is unable to use his patented spoiling style. This one is really about who is the better catcher
Well you could say the same about Wladimir, whilst i do question some of Bowe's opposition. I can't deny he has alot of heart meaning he can take alot of punishement, and i just can't see Wladimir stopping Bowe early, nor can i see Wladimir not getting tagged by Bowe at some point. I mean lets be honest Wladimir has a below average chin, and with Bowe being of similar size, logical tells me Bowe will tag him at some point.
Bowe's chin wasn't very good. As you mentioned he was hurt badly by a washed Biggs and avoided big punchers. What's going to happen to him when he gets hit by a flush straight right? Wlad doesn't have great whiskers either but his defense wasn't nearly as porous as Bowe's was. He's also more athletic and stronger than Bowe too.
