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

Riddick pulled it off on a lower quality of foe for a much shorter period relative to Lewis overall body of work. Let's be realistic here.

 

And Bowe's infigting was usually against shorter and weaker guys, what he did against Holy probably wouldnt work too well against Vitali

 

True, true. Vitali is stronger and fitter than the Gonz though. Lewis did have some success vs Vitali on the inside, but I think Vitali's conditioning would win out ultimately. Vitali is very hard to hit from the outside, I think Bowe's only chance is to copy Lewis' tactics but he would find it hard wearing down such a powerful HW.

 

Bowe didn't beat Gonzales on the inside, he got clinched everytime he closed the distance. He dominated that fight with his jab, constantly pushing him back him into the ropes, eventually finding a home for his overhand right. Possibly Bowe's best peformance in terms of utilizing his jab...Gonzales unable to outbox Riddick from long range is what done him in.


Holyfield in the trenches with Bowe, a traditional close quarter shoulder to shoulder brawl.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh4BcUqzHFU&feature=related[/ame]


Lewis' idea of infighting; grabbing around the neck and hitting anything he can.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emfS1S2SXkI[/ame]


Vitali has avoided the former fairly well throughout his career, the later he had trouble with.

Lewis slicing Vitali's face up in the clinch with punches and roughhousing.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anA8763ZZsc&feature=related[/ame]


Lewis/Vitali highlights:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFUcsznpfcM[/ame]

 

I agree with the latter but not the former. I would roughly define a brawler as someone who doesn't avoid exchanges. Which is exactly the opposite of what Vitali does. Who would you consider a typical brawler? Does he spend entire fights on the backfoot?

 

Bingo