Just a thread where you can leave your thoughts on this fighter. What did you like, dislike, where would you rank him? Personally I would see him around the middle of the top 20 heavyweights. He had a lot of great tools but he could be so damn lazy in the gym, and the Lewis fight really is a glaring hole on his resume. Lewis on the other hand already proved he’s an ATG, or went on to do so. His defence is also probably the worst I’ve seen from a fighter of his class. It seems he wouldn’t even bother defending himself in close, instead leaning into them and wearing them down while they pound away at him.
What are my thoughts on him? He is a bit of an enigma in my eyes. He has a superb win over Holyfield, but the rest of his resume is a bit thin. He missed many of the potential fights, that would have answered questions about him. His style is neither fish nor fowl, and while there is no denying his talent, you have to question the concept of a super heavyweight doing his key work on the inside!
Should have been more. Can't rate him very highly as his resume just doesn't cut it. He also looped his right hand badly and didn't make good use of his height and reach.
Lots of respect for taking Holyfield’s undefeated record, but the truth is he was the much bigger man, and a similarly sized Lewis also dispatched Holyfield (twice in my opinion)
Scoreboard!! https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...fighter-primo-carnera-or-riddick-bowe.585492/ And Bowe used his reach advantage plenty. And he did just about everything you can do in a boxing ring better than Carnera did.
This is not a popularity contest. Google "argumentum ad populum." Except use his reach advantage! Bowe fundamentally goes against your entire argument, but you can't admit it!
Outstanding talent who didn't do enough in the ring to call him ATG. If wins over top 10 fighter ever gives you ATG status, then Norton should be in everyone's top 20 HW list.
I like his inside skills, probably the best of all time for someone his size. He was also fluid, threw a lot of punches and had an entertaining style. I think he could have had more one punch knockout power considering his size and should have ended fights a lot earlier. Hide should have been knocked out in the first 2 rounds and he should have tried to take Golota out early like Lewis and Tyson did. There was no need for him to avoid Lewis in the early 90's, that version of Lewis made hard work of Frank Bruno. Like most 6'5, 240lb + fighters (Lewis, Wlad, Vitali) he looked spectacular against the small guys but didn't have that same impact when fighting someone closer to his size and he even avoided Lewis for this very reason. He had good career but it was way too short, to be past it in your late 20s is pretty bad.
