In their primes, who was more skilled... Lennox Lewis or Riddick Bowe?

I am glad you mention and give Bowe credit for making Golota come unhinged in those fights.

By surviving and throwing back, he eroded at Golota's composure and contributed to his victories by DQ.

 

Nice post.

I think Lewis was the smarter fighter, slightly better atheletically, but Bowe is twice the in-fighter that Lewis was. I'd put Riddick Bowe near the top among heavyweights who were the best on the inside.

I disagree with you about "skills" being overrated. Michael Spinks probably doesn't have the career that he had without his boxing skills because he never had much of a punch. Billy Conn almost beat Joe Louis, but not because of punching power, but boxing skill. Willie Pep and Benny Leonard's careers were practically based on sound, fundamental boxing skills.

Unless you have the pure power of George Foreman, or the reflexes of Ali, no boxer can survive without fundamental boxing skills.

 

both had the same tools. bowe was a bit more fluid only lewis was a lot more explosive. lewis had moments where he looked wary and awkward where as bowe could go to sleep and switch off. neither were breathtaking as pure boxers. both lacked full 3 min composure throughout a round.

 

Bowe had crappy defense and a ****ing lazy jab. How bout them skills? Goddamn Golota beat him to the jab all night both fights. The fact that Bowe fought so many no-hopers, and so few decent fighters, did little to illuminate a high level of skill for these eyes.

 

+1

Thread complete.

 

Exactly

 

Bowe had more natural talent, and could have had a better career than Lewis, Riddick was always a headcase. This was enforced by the blows he took to the head.

 

More default win by quiting than really won, Golota was decent, never anything special, Lennox showed what your supposed to do with a Golota level opponent in his next fight. I've seen plenty of Bowe fights and he never had a good defense

Back to the case in point Bowe had poor defense and average outside boxing skills. A tall man being able to fight inside is a good thing, but not being as effective outside is a weakness. That does not equate to a greatly skilled boxer

 

It's true that Bowe took many punches, but I think we need to qualify "leaky defense". He was not like young Foreman, who through lacking technique often was hit flush on the chin and off balance when his opponents dared to punch back. Bowe's educated stance and footwork meant that he was seldom off balance and his tucked in chin prevented most shots from landing flush.

So, his so-so defence was not mainly due to lacking technique, rather to the fact that he didn't have very quick reflexes and also that he put himself in the line of fire, confident that his offensive ability would let him inflict more damage than he received.

Lewis technical defense was not very good. It wasn't bad for a man his size, but not that good. He was open to straight rights and jabs (as the fights against Bruno, Mercer, McCall, Holyfied II, Rahman and Vitaly demonstrates) due to the fact that he left his chin out too much, didn't have much of a guard and retreated in straight lines. Most of the time he was tactically good enough to use his size and offensive aresenal to off-set this, though. He was one of the best at using his advantages.

 

I Agree to an extent, Bowe knew how to roll away from punches, block etc, however I'd say his leaky D came at the expense of his complete disregard for punches, he seemed to want to walk through a lot of the men he fought.


Lewis did not use the same refined techniques to avoid punches, but he did get hit less, as you insinuated, probably because he used his advantages not take get hit, was a counter puncher for the most part.


I mean Bowe's career was effectively over because! of the amount of punches he took, not just cause he lacked discipline, he took too many head shots throughout his career, which is probably why he cant speak coherently now.

 

Skill sets are slightly different but very close talent wise ... the difference was that Lewis was much smarter, far more dedicated and confident .. H2H I've always like Lennox ..

 

That was pretty much the point I made as well, I'd say.

Anyhow, even Steward gave the edge in skill to Bowe, even though he thought Lewis physical and mental strength would make him win the fight. It's right at the end of the interview below.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=23505&more=1

 

Bowe may have better better punch selection, a better abilty to fight both at range on the inside and at range, was more talented, but if skills are defined as the abilty to employ the techniques that are learned, then Lewis gets the edge.

Lennox probably had the more effective punches of the two in terms of his jab and straight right hand. Lewis also exhibited better movement of the two, in general displayed a suprior defense to Bowe and was a much better counter puncher even when he was being aggressive.

So, in general, I might be inclined to give Lennox the edge in terms of skill, if not in terms of sheer talent.

 

Good post.........:thumbsup

 

So how about giving Golota some credit for beating Bowe round the ring.

But oh no we dont do that do we? We just say its because Bowe became instantly old, and then just refer back to one fight against an outsized Holyfield as this mythical world beating Bowe...........surely its not because of styles and Bowes lack of adaptability..no we cant do that cos we'd have to take Bowe of the pedestal some apologists have put him on..