I think he'd beat Vitali. Fairly confident in that pick, too. Wlad's an interesting match up. If Riddick could get past the jab often enough and handle Wlad's power (lesser fighters have handled it well enough I think), than he'd likely get a lot of good work done. He should be ok on the outside and would no doubt do some serious damage on the inside, but I don't know how much success he'd have getting there. Eh, I guess I'd take Bowe on top form here as well. Anything less than his best and he probably falls short.
The prime or peak version of Bowe is on a higher level Than both Klitschko brothers, plain and simple. Wlad is a beast, but Bowe had a formidable jab and a better chin, punch repertoire and inside game than Wlad. You could say Wlad has a better jab, but Bowe would score With his jab as well and eventually walk Wlad down and batter Wlad on the inside with uppercuts. Bowe was a true fighter with mad heart and an iron chin. Bowe KO Wlad 9. Bowe has a better jab than Vitali, and where Wlad has the power to hurt Bowe, Vitali does not. BOWE outjabs Vitali, and cuts him up on the inside with uppercuts. Bowe TKO 7 Vitali on cuts. Peak/Prime Bowe was a better athlete, had better boxing skills and punch repertoire, better chin, more heart and no fear or love in the ring. Klits are atgs but Bowes short prime and peak was that of a remarkable fighter who had it all.
9 times out of 10 the Klitchkos would beat Bowe bad. Riddick was easy hit and just could not concentrate and focus like the ATG champs could. Remember the brothers both control distance and are very patient. That said that one time out of ten Riddick would kick some serious ass against both- and let me tell you I would root all the way for Bowe, the time he wins he beats them badder than either brother beats him... but how could you predict when that one time out of ten is coming up for bowe? The other 9 times its Klitchko master class. Keep bowe away, pot shot and break him down with the usual disjointed but effective water torture that usually does the trick for them.
I would like to think so. just could not bet on it. Lewis would cream them. Lewis met (and could beat) big prime guys his own size. Against the brothers Bowe would be getting hit back quite a lot against prime world class guys his own size. Golota was the only top class prime superheavyweight Bowe met.
To me Bowe was a sloppy, unimpressive fighter whose legacy benefits from his engagements with an erratic, smaller champion with incredible heart. Their styles meshed to make good show, but too much is made of both fighters championship qualities.
Bowe is disgustingly overrated. He was a stationary punching bag who couldn't block or slip a punch to save his life. He was dumb as ****, slow as molasses, couldn't control distance and couldn't even throw a straight punch. - He was totally outclassed and destroyed twice by Andrew Golota. - Got schooled by tomato can Tony Tubbs. - Blatantly ducked Lennox Lewis. - Going life and death with cruiserweight Holyfield is not impressive. Vitali-Bowe common opponents (Herbie Hide and Larry Donald) - Bowe was badly hurt several times and almost KO'd by Hide. After the fight Bowe admitted he was out on his feet several times and said Hide was the hardest puncher he ever faced. - Vitali easily destroyed Hide in 2 rounds. - Bowe won a lackluster decision over Donald. - Vitali is the only man to knockdown and stop Donald. He dropped Donald 4 times and won by KO. Either Klitschko easily destroys Bowe. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuz1QsF76oQ&feature=relmfu[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvAJ2ZHye2k&feature=relmfu[/ame]
You forgot about donut and coke addicted Tubbs giving him a stiff challenge and Pierre Coetzer standing up to his best shots until Bowe had to go low to stop him.
