Was Bowe's chin really tested?

Briggs, Rachman and Tua didn’t emerge as top contenders until Bowe was pretty done and gone from boxing. Tucker wasn’t a big puncher and certainly not on the level of Golata or Hide. Ruddock got destroyed by Lewis one month before Bowe beat Holyfield and fell off the face of the earth for the next three years. Tyson was absent from 1991-1995 and I seriously doubt Tyson’s people wanted him mingling with bowe right after being inactive for four years given that he was a high risk opponent with no belt to fight for. THATS why Mike was set up with Peter McNeeley, Bruce, Seldon, Buster Mathis and an aged Bruno instead. And finally, Ray Mercer and Riddick Bowe SIGNED to fight for the title for May 1993, but Ray choked against the boogeyman... The only fighter I hold Bowe truly accountable for not fighting was Lennox Lewis.

 

I think Golota proved that Bowe's chin was not great. His heart was immense though.

 

Interesting .. yet Lewis fought them all and Bowe avoided them all , just like he threw his title in the garbage rather than fight Lewis, a move mandated by Futch, his trainer and match maker who knew better than anyone Bowe's weaknesses which were his focus, his conditioning, his defense and his chin. I understand the justification by choice game as well as anyone but the fact is Bowe didn't fight any of the top punchers his entire career.

 

I already commented on him not fighting Lewis and holding him accountable for it. And I’ll bet it was rock Newman who had more to do with Bowe not fighting Lewis than Futch. Lewis fought those other guys because circumstances provided for him to Do so. Bowes chin was solid. He took two hammerings from Golata whole ALSO getting belted in the nuts multiple times. He battled life and death 3 times with Evander when Holy was still somewhat close to prime unlike Lewis who fought an aged version of the real deal. He took direct shots from Herbie Hide who had about a 99% Ko average. He was never floored or KO’d by a fighter of Oliver McCalls level who granted could crack but was hardly “ one of the top punchers.”

 

His chin was probably 7/10 but his his heart was 10/10. I'm sure he would get rocked by the big punchers but I think only the elites like LL and possibly Tyson could capitalize as I can't see him losing to Morrison/Ruddock caliber fighters.

 

Manny Steward said Futch didn’t want the fight because he felt Lewis was too strong for Bowe. Golata nor Holyfield were among the hardest punching top fighters. Who exactly did Hide KO ? The facts are the facts. Bowe didn’t fight any of the top punchers. His chin was decent but not more than that. He was well matched. Period.

 

I’ve addressed the fact countless times that he ducked Lewis.

 

Too many excuses.

 

Not fighting a top challenger when they weren’t even available isn’t an excuse. Not fighting Ray Mercer when he choked against a journeyman a few months prior isn’t an excuse. Calling tony tucker one of the biggest punchers in the division is a fallacy.

 

I just can’t see calling a man who was never stopped in 45 fights and who took direct shots from Holyfield, Golata, Cooper, Hide and Gonzalez as having a weak chin. Nobody here is claiming that Bowe’s chin was on the level of Chuvalo , Cobb or McCall, but I think it was reasonably tested. Some of these guys seem to think that unless you took shots from Shavers, Foreman and Lewis and laughed it all off while sipping a cocktail that you must have a weak chin..

 

Just as you've made multiple excuses for what he also ducked every other top puncher of his era.

 

I don’t know how the hell you “ duck “ someone who wasn’t even an available contender during your reign, but you sure seem to have an idea.

 

Not