Does Riddick Bowe fit in amongst the top 20 ATG'S?

Bowe is not a great.
Without making a list, I'd say that as a linear champion, Bowe is around the Rahman/ Buster Douglas level. Yes, they have wins over other great champions, but that's it. As far as further accomplishments go, Rahman even did more than Bowe, faced tougher opponents, regained a belt. You could even argue that his win over a great is better due to it being a win over an higher ranked great.

 

I don't think so.

 

Not a legit comparison. Bowe had already proved his abilities prior to the Golota fight, and was clearly deteriorated as a fighter due to the added weight and lack of dedication to his craft by that point. Lacy on the other hand was a hype-job who hadn't proved a thing prior to Calzaghe, and was exposed accordingly. Bowe was proven, albeit for a short period of time. Some fighters just have shorter primes than others, due to a multitude of factors. Bowe's flaws were in his conditioning and dedication, or lack thereof.

Still, I think he could be argued among the top 20 HW's of all time, easily if based on ability.

 

No, he's the most overrated boxer in history

 

While there were ready-made excuses, he was arguably exposed as far back as Wiggins.

 

My thesis is that Bowe never was in his prime, ever. He was incredibly talented but never reached prime and threw everything away thanks to his incredibly laziness and arrogance.

If Bowe could have received a brain transplant of somebody with some real work ethics, balls of steel and iron determination and a good portion of self-confidence while retaining his boxing talent you'd have a HOF HW right there.

 

Sonny Liston at #3? Care to explain that one?

 

If Lacy had stopped fighting the night before the Calzaghe was due to happen - many would say exactly that...

"Talent wise yes but he really should have achieved more."

...

Lacy went on and we now have a far more realistic view of his skills etc. Bowe went on long enough however to give us good clues. The fights with (calzaghe, Taylor, old RJJ, Mendoza for Lacy...) Golota and others where he looked anything but a good champion.

I have little doubt that Bowe is so grossly overrated because he got fights with Evander and then got out when reality began to hit his fans.. Some fans rationalized the Golotafights and others and Bowe got out before the evidence was overwhelming even for them.

 

:happy

 

Interested to know your reasoning on how Frazier fares better in your top 20 than Foreman McGrain?

 

No fukkin way, no how! 2 good fights does not make an ATG.Golata hitting him in the nuts three times makes it a must see fight tho.

 

Did you just say Golota was better than Bowe.

Hang your head in shame. You clearly know nothing about boxing.

In answer to the thread question, if we are talking P4P then nowhere near, on a heavyweight scale, probably yes.

 

Joe Frazier ahead of Foreman even though Foreman beat him 2 times. Harry Wills a fighter who has no fights we can actually watch above Foreman, Lewis a fighter who best wins came against a washed up Holyfield and a washed up Tyson above Foreman, Rocky Marciano a blown up cruiserweight who is known for beating 40 year old has beens ahead of Foreman. That seems about right

Anyway Based on talent Bowe is a top 20 rated fighter. In his prime i would favor few fighters over him.