If both retired today who is ranked higher Riddick Bowe or Vitali K?

Holy doesnt have the HW punch, Bowe never faced a big puncher, steered well clear :yep

 

Bowe had a big big heart in the ring. He never considered quitting. I think VK would have beaten him. Just not every time. For someone of Bowes talent he sure did manage to avoid most people, he must have known something.

 

When Bowe stepped up even though he won the 2 fights vs Golota they were bad fights for him. His fights with Holy were his biggest fights and he won 2 but Evander claimed heart problems at the time. Vitali had a good fight vs Lewis and he was not really mentally prime and he dominated Kirk Johnson, Hide,Williams,Areola,Peter,Sanders, he also came back after 4 yrs and that was an acomplishment. He still was trying to fight Haye and now Valuev but Don King proves he is a troll for the sport turning down 2mm for Valuev. At this point in time I give Vitali the edge...Bowe threw a title away not to fight Lewis and that bothers me, the fans deserve the champ to fight the best.

 

Vitali Klitschko was also Ring Magazine champion

Bowe's 2 title defenses were disgraceful to say the least.

Had Vitali not been out for 4 years it would not even be close.

I really can't pick who is ranked higher.

 

What, you mean a guy whom he already defeated convincingly? Yeah, real risky. Not many gave Holyfield much of a chance in the rematch, but Stewart knew better...

Bowe's courage inside the ring cannot be questioned, but outside of it, different story. He robbed us of one of the greatest HW fights of all time by blatantly ducking Lewis.


As for the topic question, it's a close call. Bowe has the better single win, but Vitali looked good in his losses and dominated all of his other fights by almost unprecented margins.

 

If you don't consider Hide as a big puncher then I don't know what is wrong with you. He may have had poor punch resistance, but he could hit.

To answer the opening post, I think Bowe would be ranked higher.

 

At the word level he never showed it. regardless Hide being the biggest puyncher hes faced when Tyson, Lewis, Rudduck, Morrison, Tua, Bruno, Formean were all around is pretty laughable

 

True. Agree. This is not a definite pick and it depends what you're going to value here. Bowe's resume is deeper and better. Vitali has had great longevity and willingness to get in with anybody, but during a weaker era in most of his time at the top. But about Stewart knowing better, he has actually said that he didn't think Holy would win and told him outright that Bowe was basically better in nearly every department and he didn't give him good odds.

 

it isn't hard to see the answer is Vitali.

 

Vitali does but head to head Bowe would have destroyed him ... no contest ...

 

Bowe edges him currently. Vitali may soon surpass him though.

 

Currently, I would rank Riddick Bowe ahead of Vitali Klitschko.

 

V.K. all the way..... Based on his conditioning and attitude about the game and physical fitness it ain't even close............ Bowe had TWO good / great yrs from 1991 to 1993..... By 1994, Bowe was really never the same, nor did I ever get the sense he loved boxing anymore during that time..... Bowe's fights with "Mathis and Donald" in 1994 were horrid as well.......

Take it or leave it, but V.K. is a serious dude who means business... And at age 38 he still kicks ass.......

MR.BILL

 

I'd probably have to go with Bowe... He was never stopped, and lost only once to a true all time great whom he beat twice..... That might be over simplifying things a bit, but then, neither man has much else to speak of....

EDIT - Of course, as powerpuncher mentioned, Vitali did look more impressive against the same level of opposition.. He also mentioned that Vitali fought Lewis, whereas Bowe didn't, but I don't give many points for that.. Let's face it... Bowe was a reigning champion, when Lennox was a dangerous prime contender who blasted Ruddock in two..... Bowe had everything to lose, while Lennox had everything to gain.... In 2003, Vitali was trying to make a name for himself, while Lewis was the prime money ticket to get in the ring with....Lewis was at the end of his run....He was 37 years old, as opposed to being 28 when he challenged Bowe.... Off for 12 months, a recent KO loss to Hasim Rahman, showing up to fights at career high weights, etc..... All this, and Vitali still lossed... Saying that Bowe ducked Lewis while giving Vitali credit for fighting him, is an apples to oranges comparison....Totally irrelevant....

The best thing that Vitali has going for him, is the fact that he looked more impressive against B level opposition, but that's basically it.... Bowe has the better win, and less devastating losses....