Sonny Liston vs Riddick Bowe Who Ranks higher

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Joeywill, Jul 15, 2023.


Who ranks higher

Poll closed Jul 22, 2023.

  1. Liston

    40 vote(s)
    88.9%

  2. Bowe

    5 vote(s)
    11.1%
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  1. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    No, he threw his belt in a trashcan in order to avoid the biggest fight in his career.
     
    Seamus, Jul 19, 2023
    Seamus, Jul 19, 2023
    #16
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  2. Contro

    Contro Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The duck of Lewis is inexcusable. Had Holyfield remained champion he would have fought all of them
     
    Contro, Jul 19, 2023
    Contro, Jul 19, 2023
    #17
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  3. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ya obviously Bowe has Liston completely destroyed in the heart department.
     
    Joeywill, Jul 19, 2023
    Joeywill, Jul 19, 2023
    #18
  4. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lewis: Bowe Avoided but they were gonna fight later on but Lewis got KOd by McCall
    Tyson: Was in jail
    Foreman: Openly ducked Bowe
    Holmes: Probably didnt want it with Bowe either and Bowe would get little credit for that
    McCall: Non factor who Kod Lennox. Fought Holmes and Bruno instead of Bowe. Wanted to cash out on low risk fights.
    Mercer: Was gonna fight him but Mercer lost to Ferguson on the Bowe vs Dokes undercard
    Moorer: Got knocked out by Foreman. Dont see when the fight wouldve happened maybe it was on Bowe dont know.
    Morrison: Got Kod multiple times and never warranted a title shot. Maybe it wouldve been interesting.

    Bowe did beat.
    Holyfield 2x
    Seldon
    Golota 2x
    Hide
    Ferguson coming off Mercer win (also arguably beat Holmes and beat Buster Douglas earlier)
    Gonzalez.
    Larry Donald
    Tubbs

    Yes Liston beat more contenders but outside of Lennox Lewis I dont see who Bowe shouldve fought that wouldve made a big difference to his career standing.
     
    Joeywill, Jul 19, 2023
    Joeywill, Jul 19, 2023
    #19
  5. Cojimar 1946

    Cojimar 1946 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    A lot of the guys mentioned weren't even contenders. Beating Gonzales doesn't help Bowes legacy or Seldon.
     
    Cojimar 1946, Jul 19, 2023
    Cojimar 1946, Jul 19, 2023
    #20
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  6. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    -Bowe was not going to EVERY fight Lewis. Everyone knows that.

    -Everyone you put on Bowe's list outside of Holy was pointless.

    -Some of those guys would have taken the title shot he gave Dokes.
     
    catchwtboxing, Jul 19, 2023
    catchwtboxing, Jul 19, 2023
    #21
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  7. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Bowe threw a belt in the trash rather than honor an agreement to fight Lewis...what is the point, here?

    Again, ALL of them are ducks since he chose to make a title defense against Michael Dokes rather than a live body.
     
    catchwtboxing, Jul 19, 2023
    catchwtboxing, Jul 19, 2023
    #22
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  8. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Beat Golota x2 ? come on mate Bowe got the living hell beat out of him twice, and ended both fights laying on the floor that's not i call a win.

    Ferguson beat Douglas a whopping 7 years earlier and was journeyman by the time he fought Bowe. He lucked out vs a lackluster Mercer who was going through a really low point in his career, Mercer also got a draw vs Marion Wilson another journeyman rated even lower than Ferguson.

    I also don't believe Bowe's list of title challengers were the only match ups for Bowe at the time, Bowe literally threw his belt in the trash to avoid fighting Lewis. So that should give you some idea that maybe it was Bowe and his team avoiding some of the fights above ?
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Jul 19, 2023
    Dynamicpuncher, Jul 19, 2023
    #23
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  9. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    I love Bowe but y'all gotta relax. For what it's worth I think they would've made an entertaining scrap.
     
    techks, Jul 19, 2023
    techks, Jul 19, 2023
    #24
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  10. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    Riddick Bowe was like a shooting star, he went up once and then came right down. Sonny Liston fought most of the top ranked contenders, and winning in style, then kayoed the defending champion, Floyd Patterson rather brutally in winning the title, then stopped him early again in a rematch. After losing his title to the Louisville Lip, Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in Feb 1964, he was defeated again in strange circumstances in the rematch in May 1965. Liston fought on until his mysterious demise in Jan 1971. Bowe with his immaturity and mental issues never quite regained his stardom he enjoyed after defeating Evander Holyfied.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Jul 19, 2023
    Richard M Murrieta, Jul 19, 2023
    #25
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  11. BoB Box

    BoB Box "Hey Adam! Wanna play Nintendo?" Full Member

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    As far as Legend status I would easily say Sonny Liston blows puny Bowe out of the water.
     
    BoB Box, Jul 19, 2023
    BoB Box, Jul 19, 2023
    #26
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  12. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Completely false
     
    Joeywill, Jul 20, 2023
    Joeywill, Jul 20, 2023
    #27
  13. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I agree that they were avoiding tough fights but he was prepared to fight Mercer in his 2nd title defense. Unfortunately for Mercer he lost unexpectedly to Ferguson
     
    Joeywill, Jul 20, 2023
    Joeywill, Jul 20, 2023
    #28
  14. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Liston the mental midget?
     
    Joeywill, Jul 20, 2023
    Joeywill, Jul 20, 2023
    #29
  15. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    Spoken like a true no nothing who’s only seen his fights with Ali.
     
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2023
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2023
    #30
    Joeywill likes this.
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