Ali of the 3rd Frazier fght, Against unbeaten Bowe?

That is a brutal, mean and nasty thing to do to Ali this late into his career LOL.

 

On paper, one would favor Bowe.

(Although there’s a loophole — 1-0 Riddick Bowe is, in fact, unbeaten Riddick and I don’t think he was ready for Ali in the earlier stages of his career. I would probably favor Manilla Ali over the Bowe of Tubbs. He nearly got outboxed by a shopworn fat man, albeit a very skilled one.)

But if they actually trained for each other and prepared that way and went through the whole prefight, Ali was a master of the mental game and might get inside the weaker-minded Riddick’s head.

Just no way to know.

 

60/40 in favor of Bowe if it’s Bowe from the 1st Holyfield fight.

Bowe from the 2nd Holyfield fight loses to Ali because he was not in good shape for that one.

 

Its very hard to go against Ali but Bowe was unbelievable in his prime.

Bowe could go 15 rounds for sure if we're talking from the first Bowe Holyfield fight, he wasn't particularly tired after the final bell rang.

Really hard to call, Ali would win the early rounds but begin to fade as the rounds creep in. Ali's footwork wasn't at its best in the third Frazier fight. Bowe would be able to corner Ali.

 

Exactly what I was thinking. I think the Ali of Manila uses his mind to find a way. Physically he may be outmanned, but mentally there's never been anyone like him.

 

When was Bowe ever in his life conditioned for 15 rounds in Manila, it would be like wringing out a cloth soaked in chicken grease, and as good of an inside fighter as he was he was levels below Frazier

Ali had too much ring IQ for Bowe who was a crude brawler at times, it wasn't as natural to him and wasn't quite on the level like Foreman, and he wasn't as athletic as Norton

I think it could be close like Norton until Ali starts widening the gap around 6 or 7 and finishes it in 8 or 9

 

Initially I jumped in and thought Bowe for sure. But stepping back from it, we are talking a seasoned 15 round fighter who has beaten some of the best heavyweights the world has ever seen. A mentally impregnable fighter with a cast iron will and an incredible chin versus a sloppy monster with a huge heart and a love of trench warfare. Bert Sugar suggested given a choice you can't decide, go for the disciplined fighter. Bowe hangs tough in a war over twelve but the last three rounds start to look like Everest to him about half way through round twelve and he starts to ship punishment. Ali sweeps the championship rounds and both men finish on their feet in a classic war of attrition.

 

100% in agreement with this--GREAT synopsis!!

 

Its a tough call until i realized the fight is in that sweatbox arena in Manila. Ali 100%. He was crazy, Bowe just pretended to be crazy.

Its a high contact fight. Ali was punching with mean intentions that morning in Manila. Oh yes Bowe will have his moments early. Ali will be shook but he will not have trouble finding Bowe with his still blazing handspeed.

In deep water Riddick cant swim with Ali. Poor Papa Smurf throws in the towel by the 11th or earlier.

 

Excellent scenario and one that I wholeheartedly agree with.