Muhammad Ali 1974 v Riddick Bowe 1992

Think it would be a very entertaining fight. Pretty sure also that Ali would fight a smarter fight than Evander did.

 

I reckon folk look at Ali, Marciano et al with Rose tinted glasses, if you look at the some of the old fights they were totally woefull, terrible in fact. Saying Ali is STILL the greatest is like saying Ben Hohnson is the fastest runner. Boxings the same as athletics in that the guys get quicker, stronger, bigger, increased power. Records fall in every sport but no-one says a past athlete is the best of all time, strange eh. Could Ali have beaten a prime Lewis I doubt it. Let the disagreers begin

 

Bowe gives the 74 Ali some trouble, but still drops a clear UD.

The prime Ali white washes Bowe, and maybe even stops him.

 

I have a very hard time seeing in the version of Ali stopping Bowe, especially inside 12. You can makee a reasonable case for it since Ali stopped both Bonavena and Foreman, but personallly I just don't see it.

 

Holmes, at 24, was Ali's sparring partner in 1974. In 1992, at 42, he was a legit condenter for the title and put in a good showing against Holyfield, who himself came withing an inch of being 2-1 against Bowe despite being past prime in arguably all three fights.

A 25-year old Foreman lost his title to Ali in 1974 only to win it back 20 years later against a guy that had taken the same title from Holyfield.

Out of curiosity, what do you make of this?:smoke

(Incidentally, I think Lewis and Wladimir would be very tough opponents for Ali)

 

I totally agree:good

 

I hear what your saying but the guy Foreman beat to take the title was very very poor. styles make fights as they say and the sun shines on a dogs ass some days, know what I mean. Foreman had to take him on cause he wouldnt have got anywhere else with the other champions at the time. But your right Ali would struggle with both Lewis and Big Klit

 

But at the end of the day two guys that peaked in the 70's made an impact in the 90's. Holmes for example had an easier time with Mercer than either Holyfield or Lewis had. How does that correlate with your view that boxing had advanced so much?

The success Foreman and Holmes had in the 90's is what you would expect their peak versions to have against such competition (Mercer, Briggs, Morrison, Holyfield etc) according to your view. But the fact is that they were long past their peak versions.

 

Yeah I see your point, but experience goes a long way also, and Holmes had that in spades. But Tyson smashes Holmes, Lewis smashes Tyson, and I smash Lewis, eh, no sctratch the last one:good Still dont believe that Ali is the greatest of all time, plus there is no way of telling really is there. Look at Marciano, unbeaten, but could you really tell me he could beat even Haye?? At just under 5ft 10, and a smidgen over 13st, I think not, he wouldnt even be a cuiserweight now, light heavy at best, even a fat Ricky Hatton would blast him, although Hatton would be a bit heavy

 

I don't think u can compare boxing to athletics. I wouldn't doubt that Ali could beat Lewis ( it would be tough ) and I wouldn't write off rocky either. Lennox was knocked out by worse alot worse.
U said some of the old fights were awful did u watch Haye V Valuev ffs? The skill level of vast majority of the heavyweights around now is shocking as is the conditioning.
Also are u just talking HWs or every weight class? If so would u take Cotto or Mosley to beat SRR at welter?
U talk about Ben "Hohnson" Johnson, lets talk about other sports. Would Pele and Maradona not be the best players around if they were playin today? Of course they would. Would Jack Nicklaus not be challenging Woods if he were playin today? sure he would. Those sports have a skill level to them as does boxing unlike sprinting.
I agree that people get too nostalgic when looking at past sports stars and dont give enough credit to the modern era especially in boxing. But u r in the extreme opposite.
I see Ali outpointing Lewis mainly from workrate and outlanding him decisively, making Lewis look foolish at times. But it would be hard for him and Lewis would have a good chance, no doubt
To the original question, seein as its the 74 Ali I think Bowe will give him problems. But Ali is too smart for Bowe and will tie him up when he needs to. Id say it would be a close but clear UD for Ali.

 

Pfff... If i had read this post I wouldn't have bothered responding to your 1st post. I imagine ur on the wind up. In case ur not, GO ****ING DIE!!!

 

Ho steady big chap, no need for the last bitatsch Not at the wind up, a 13st Marciano would get killed by Haye, easily, come on you know it makes sense. Was joking about HATTON though