Bowe has no case over Louis, Foreman and Lewis. I forgot about Tyson, I should have included him. I mentioned only 7 people because I didn't want to pick too many pre-80s fighters. I can name quite a few more than that though - Jeffries, Johnson, Schmeling, Charles, Rocky, Frazier, Holyfield, maybe even Fury.
Exactly. The level of competition and how effectively you can deal with an opponent’s style determines everything. Even Mayweather himself against less predictable styles like Corralles, Castillo, Mosley, and Maidana found his defense wasn’t as effective and was forced to fight more offensively. For example if I were to give Mayweather Kid Gavilan’s opponents from 1948-1955 I don’t see him looking like a defensive master and he’d be taking a lot more punishment just due to the level of competition.
Exactly. To say fighter X has a better defense than fighter Z and they have no common opponents, or, fighter X faced what proved to be subpar competition the vast majority of his career , but fighter Z has a lot of very goods, and a couple atg wins, how can one say fighter X had a better defense because he took less punishment over his career than fighter Z? When fighter Z faced much better competition? To use Ali for example , to say his defense wasn't that great without factoring in his 3yr forced exile, the level of his competition, and him hanging around far too long is a disservice to him. And especially to completely ignore the 1st part of his career when the opponents while not as good as the 2nd half, nevertheless some very good fighters themselves, Yet he was almost untouchable. I can understand the rationale of his defense not being conventional, and not sustainable over a long career. But not good? Really?
Jeffries was very strong, but I doubt he can hang with more modern boxers skill wise. Same goes for Johnson. Schmelling and Rocky stand no chance whatsoever. Frazier and Charles are skilled, but they are smaller and would get beat. Big skilled guy beats the skilled small guy. And how can you ever pick Holyfield when Bowe beat him prime vs prime ?!? Fury might outpoint him.
The same reason why I have Ali over Norton despite Norton outfighting Ali overall in the series. Bowe was a bad matchup for Evander, but Evander was far more accomplished and more versatile fighter.
