Debate: Is it possible that R. Bowe of Nov. 1992 was the best ever for one night?

Little late to the party here Mr. Bill, but I'll add my two cents...also, I really like the heavyweight questions and threads you ask...it's my favorite division...not too many around like us anymore, lol.

I always thought that a prime Bowe, as short as that time was, could have given any fighter in history a run for their money. His combination of in and out fighting, with his power, would have made him a tough go for anybody. For one year he was one of the best heavyweights to ever lace them up, but as been mentioned many times in this thread a number of things held him back from sustaining that level for any longer than he did.

Additionally, Bowe was one of the original "Super Heavyweights" and without getting into a pissing contest with Klitschko fans, I think Bowe would have given both of them a good fight.

 

man, talking about Bowe/Lewis/Tyson/Douglas/Ali always make me hate the current HW division...

 

Definitely not. The Ali of the Liston fight would have boxed circles around him with his jab and footwork and make him look veeeeery foolish. I would bet my house on that and I'm not usually sure about my predictions. Bowe could be lumbering. A Lewis with the right patient mindset also beats him.

Evander is not one of the h2h greatest heavyweights (he is darn good though and I have massive respect for him) and he gave Bowe problems with his jab, speed and timing whenever he tried to box. There are better boxers around. Bowe has a simply fabulous inside game but what happens when somebody doesn't allow him to use it? He is no slouch on the outside - excellent overhand right and a thudding jab - but he can be outboxed.

I give Vitali, Wlad, Frazier and Liston 30-60 % chance of knocking him out. Wlad's chin would most likely betray him but I would make the other three favourites. Well, Vitali being 50/50... Louis would knock him out and Baer and Foreman could too. Bowe's defense is lacking and I have rarely seen one fighter getting more praise on one win than him. Okay, I grudgingly accept people saying "Montreal Duran" as he's proved himself so many times but beating Evander in a brilliant war, where you show weaknesses yourself, doesn't cut it for me.

A fighter that could have and SHOULD have been great, no doubt about it, but one who will struggle against certain styles.

 

I think the same can be said for a lot of fighters.

Was Tyson the best ever the night he destroyed undefeated reigning champ Micheal Spinks in 1 round?

Was Buster Douglas the best ever the night he beat on Mike Tyson like a gong?

Was Roy Jones Jr the best ever the night he shut out undefeated top p4pers James Toney?

fighters have those greats nights just like they have a Chad Dawson like bad night.

 

We miss the days of competitive fights that went back and forth...

 

I don't think so. He fought a smaller guy and Evander occasionally would fight like a big guy and not use his advantage which was inside speed and fast combination punching. Bowe was good no doubt, but not great. Certainly he was not a mover in the ring, and eventually a guy would hit him and Bowe had no answer. Lewis was not a great mover but was better than Bowe, and his right hand kept guys respectful, even if they were landing on him.

 

hmmm, no i dont think so. Maybe if he ko'd holy in the 2 round

 

Papa Smurf was one of the greats no doubt Mr Boxing!!
If Bowe wouldnt do it for Eddie he wouldnt do it for anyone. Bowe was afraid of Lennox Lewis. I was present when Lennox & a girl in a yellow chicken suit with CHICKEN BOWE acoss the front embarased & harrassed Bowe challenging him to fight. Bowe just hurried away to the boos of the crowd. Bowe had the talent but lacked the heart & dedication it takes to be a champion

 

I disagree here If Ike Ibeabuchi had not called that greedy hooker in Vegas he would have been undisputed champ still today. The Klitschko's would both be retired as mere club fighters. The only guy I think could have beaten him at the time was Lennox Lewis. It would have been a barn burner to see though.
I asked Rock Newman why Bowe ducked Lewis Newman grinned & said " Why risk it all with Lewis when the fans will buy Dokes & Ferguson" by the time those 2 charades were over Bowe was on a decline

 

In that era, would that Bowe been able to withstand the Tyson who stepped into the ring with Spinks or Lewis at his peak?:think

I don't think so. Was he that far gone when Evander beat him and the paraglider in the rematch?

 

Bowe was good, I could see him beating the Klits, BUT 88 Tyson would've raped, Lewis whoops him , as does Holmes.

 

You see, the problem with Riddick Bowe is that he never tested himself against tough, Euro-level talents. Many American-level heavyweights look sensational when they are beating each other up, but, more often than not, when they step up to Euro-level opposition, they come up short.

Evander Holyfield is proof of this phenomenon. Holyfield, while still in his prime, has lost to Nicolai Valuev and Sultan Ibgramov, who are two B-Level Eurotalents. If Holyfield, one of the greatest American heavyweights of all time, had the drive to face A-Level Eurotalents, he'd be obliterated.

 

this is a joke right? Please tell me it is!

 

He could've been the best of his time but he just lacked the dedication. Like Jimmy Young, the talent was there but he never fulfilled it though Young has a better case for going in the hall lol. I'm not saying that because I'm a Young fan either.