A Discplined Riddick Bowe...

Depends what you mean by "disciplined". To have a chance against Tyson, Bowe would need not only to be in shape, but also improve his defence, and for that he would need a lot more discipline.

I think Bowe is overrated since he looked great against B-level fighters, but otherwise Golota fight (although, I admit, it is past prime Bowe) is a good indication what could've happened if Bowe fought big, talented opponent. Holy does not exactly count, mostly because he fought wrong fight the first time.

 

Bowe never reached his full potential. Eddie Futch said Bowe could have been one of the top heavyweights of all time with all his skills. In my opinon he would have given even a prime Tyson a hell of a fight, because he had good infighting skills, he was very big, and had a good mean streak in him when he was dialed in.
Its hard to say it was the real Bowe in the Golota fights, because he really started to lose his conditioning after the first Holyfield fight. When he wasnt in condition, he was not a very good fighter, not using his jab, and looping his punches. He seemed to pull it all back together for the Gonzalez fight, but then lost interest again. I would say Bowe was probably one if not the biggest waste of talent in heavyweight history. He was always known to be very lazy in the gym, in fact he sparred with Evander Holyfield many times before the title fight, and Holy always handled him, so he felt he would have no problem defending against him.

 

He could have been an atg imho. And yes, he would have beat Tyson.

 

bowe was a good fighter but a level below our lennox...

 

Depends. In 1992 I believe that Lewis wasn't fully developed and with Bowe's awesome infighting capabilities, I see a knockout of Lennox as more than a possibility.

 

I think that had Riddick Bowe stayed focussed he might have beaten Andrew Golata without the aid of a disqualification, perhaps even gone on to beating some of the other top rated heavys of the late 90's, ie, Grant, Briggs, Byrd, Klitschko, Tua, etc. I personally would never have favored him to beat Lennox Lewis though.

As it stands, Bowe's record is very good. He was never KO'd and lost only once to an all time great whom he beat twice. Additionally, he was a true lineal champion for a brief period and even after he lost the title may very well have been the best heavy in the division from maybe 1994-1996. He has two very good wins over Evander Holyfield, and for whatever its worth, defeated some halfway respectable fighters in Coetzer, Seldon, Gonzalez, Hide, Donald, and Cooper along with aging but active versions of Tubbs, Dokes,Biggs, and Thomas.

Riddick Bowe, probably does not deserve to be rated top 10, due to his missing too many big fights during his era, ie, Lewis, Tyson, Moorer, Foreman, etc.. But he comes close based on the other reasons that I've listed.

 

Personally I think the best Bowe beats any version of Lennox Lewis. He had that extra intangible, that Lennox never developed, and could easily engage a fighter who liked to operate from the outside into a full slugging match and inside fight when he used his jab properly. He was so big and savvy on the inside, Lewis would have had a hard time holding on the inside.

 

With better discplin and better managment Bowe would have been an all time great.

 

I disagree,

Sure its possible that a peak Bowe might have gotten the better of a pre-Steward Lewis, but even then I'm not so sure. Riddick lost handely to Lewis in the amateurs and continued to struggle with men who had a strait jab and good generalship throughout his career. The Lewis who was utterly anialating men like Andrew Golata, Shanon Briggs, Michael Grant, etc, would have to be favored against Riddick Bowe.

 

And they both lose to Gonzalez in the amateurs.

What's the point?

 

With his lack of defense even at his best Bowe would be in Hell against Tyson.


Tyson had trouble with guys who PREVENTED him from landing on them not guys who tried to brawl with him. Bowes penchant to brawl and lack of defense and footwork would play right in Tysons hands.

 

A disciplined Bowe gets Ko'd by Lewis inside of 3, his defense is poor and even if his chin is good it won't stand up to the speed/power of a Lennox or Prime Tyson, neither does he have huge power, relentless workrate or blazing speed. Lets not forget outside of Holyfield, Bowe never faced any other top level opperators, avoiding the best, the biggest punchers, in the division during his short reign and after his reign too. Lets also forget when someone jabbed Bowe they gave him fits - Golota, Tubbs, Holyfield 2

 

What intanglibles no defense ? inability to handle a jab ? poor footwork ?

The only things Bowe has over Lewis are Chin and infighting ability guys who get their ass kicked by Golota TWICE a lesser brainless version of Lewis are not going to beat the best Lewis.

Golota was quickly disposed of by every Elite ATG HW he faced only one elite HW got his ass kicked twice against Golota only to win through Golotas own stupidity.

 

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