George Foreman(1991) vs. Riddick Bowe(1992)

Bowe beats him, Bowe wouldn't be a good match up for old Foreman because he could match Foreman's physical tools. I think Bowe would be able to jab with Foreman and would land consistently with his over hand right, uppercut and pretty well all his punches in his arsenal. Old Foreman would make a fight of it and land hard jabs of his own and good power shots likely hurting Bowe a little bit throughout the fight. But I see Bowe winning most of the rounds by being more active and I think he'd likely hurt Foreman a lot more then anyone was able to do while on his comeback its even possible Big Daddy would be able to put his punches together well enough to stop Big George.

 

There was a long list of heavyweights who could beat old george foreman...and Foreman knew it. That's why he never fought them. The ring magazine even named george manager of the year. George was shrewd.

Hats off to big George for sticking around long enough to wait for one he knew he could beat, he was in a position where he could be granted any fight he wanted. It is never the case for regular contenders but George was a gimmick. Allowances are made for a gimmick every once in a while.

 

Foreman had won 24 fights in a row (23 by KO) prior to his epic battle with Holyfield.

In his first fight in 10 years he beat Steve Zouski, KO4, in March of 1987. Zouski had been stopped one year prior by an 18-0 Mike Tyson in March of 1986, KO3.

In his 5th comeback fight he stopped Rocky Sekorski in the 3rd round. Rocky had lasted the distance vs. P. Coetzer, he lost two very close fights to a faded Jimmy Young, he stopped L. Spinks in the 6th round, and he lasted the distance vs. F. Damiani and Adilson Rodrigues (12 rounds). After Foreman he went the 12 round distance with M.Dokes in 1988 (prior to Dokes' classic fight with Holyfield).

In his 8th comeback fight he came in at 235 Lbs. vs. Qawi and looked good. He stopped Qawi in the 7th round. The only other time Qawi was stopped was vs. Holyfield.

He stopped David Jaco in the 1st round, so had Carl "The Truth" Williams and Tyson. Morrison and Alex Stewart pulled that same trick after Foreman. Jaco beat a young Ruddock and lasted the distance vs. Buster Douglas and McCall though.

He stopped J.B. Williamson in the 5th round. Williamson was a decent LHW and should have never fought above CW. Jimmy Thunder stopped him in the 10th round and he lasted the distance vs. P. Coetzer.

He stopped Bert Cooper, KO2. Cooper quit after the 2nd round. He knew he didn't stand a chance at that point. Bowe stopped Cooper in the 2nd but Cooper had a pretty decent 1st round vs. Bowe. Cooper improved for a short period and went on to stop Joe Hipp and give Holyfield and Moorer good fights (scoring knockdowns vs. both).

He beat Everett "Bigfoot" Martin by decision but won 9 out of 10 rounds and dropped Martin in the 8th. Martin had beat Bert Cooper, and went the distance with Qawi prior to his fight with Foreman. After Foreman, he dropped an undefeated Michael Moorer and even won a couple of rounds on way to losing a decision to him. He even upset Tim Witherspoon by decision.

He stopped Gerry Cooney in the 2nd round. Cooney had only lost to Holmes (LKOby13) and M. Spinks (LKOby5) prior to this.

He stopped Adilson Rodrigues in the 2nd round. Holyfield had stopped Rodrigues in the 2nd round as well. Rodrigues had won decisions vs. Bonecrusher Smith and Quick Tillis and he went on to beat Johnny Nelson by decision.

He stopped Ken Lakusta in the 3rd round who had gone the 6 round distance and even won a couple of rounds vs. a 20-0 Tommy Morrison (he was dropped twice though).

Foreman gave Holyfield a very tough fight in 1991. He rocked Holyfield several times and was definately "in" the fight the entire time.

Foreman seemed to slack after his fight with Holyfield (busy with TV appearances and other business deals) but still had a few flashes of greatness after this. He looked good vs. Coetzer, Savarese, and Briggs. He did not look so good in his wins vs. Stewart and Schulz despite scoring a few knockdowns. He looked awful vs. Moorer until he stopped him in the 10th round. He didn't look good vs. Morrison. The Holyfield fight was the peak of his 2nd career and after that fight it was downhill.

So, the Bowe who fought Holyfield in '92 vs. the Foreman who fought Holyfield in '91?

You'd have to favor Bowe.

In 1992 he fought the best fight of his career vs. a very good Holyfield who seemed to have underestimated Bowe. Holyfield once made Bowe quit in a sparring session and thought very little of Bowe as a top HW (bad move by Holyfield). With that said, Bowe was still one hell of a fighter at that time. 6'5" with an 81" reach and 235-240 Lbs. He had a good jab, he punched hard, he could take a good shot, and decent hand speed for a big man.

Bowe had his struggles though. Biggs gave him a good fight prior to the 8th round stoppage. Tubbs gave him a very good fight and some felt that Tubbs should have gotten the decision. Coetzer gave him more trouble than he would give Foreman and Bowe really fought dirty in order to win it. He hit Coetzer low so many times I lost count. As a matter of fact his low blows set up the stoppage. He stopped the glass jawed Bruce Seldon, so had Oliver McCall (the fight with McCall was a good fight though).

I think it would be a great fight, no joke.

 

Bowe probably had the ability to stay away from Foreman and win a decision with a defense first mind set... but we all know that Bowe would not fight this way, when did he ever do that? Bowe was a big man who liked to brawl. He had good boxing skills but he couldn't resist a good fight. Foreman would provide that good fight. Foreman could take Bowe's shots. Foreman could hurt Bowe... Holyfield, Golota, and a few others did. Foreman was heavier than Bowe and had a similar height and reach... he would not be bullied by Bowe. Foreman was stronger than Bowe and would be able to push him back to set up his own shots when Bowe tried to fight inside. Foreman would be able to keep Bowe off balance with his jab even if he had to eat a few to land his own.

Nobody is for Foreman? I'll take Foreman.

 

Bowe without doubt. But not that easy.
Riddick wasn't hard to hit and wasn"t quick....both those factors make George a danger...
But George is slow and Riddick's youth wins the day.
Bowe was a good fighter at hid brief best and his age carries the day in this matchup...over 10 rounds its a UD for Bowe...late stopage a possibility.

 

Prime Bowe DOMINATED Holyfield who a year earlier DOMINATED Foreman. Hard to say otherwise but Foreman gets pummeled worse than the Stewart fight.

 

I don't see the fight going that way. The problem, in my view, is Foreman's lack of speed, both foot speed and hand speed. The guy was just too slow. And even though Bowe could be hit and hurt, the fighters who hurt him the most were not slow, plodding guys like Foreman; they were guys who had some speed and quickness (along with some power). Foreman would not be able to hit Bowe like Holyfield, Golota, or Hide did. Foreman's power (which to me is overrated in his comeback anyways) would not be much of a factor. Or, more specifically, Foreman's punching power wouldn't be as much of a factor. But I do think George's physical strength would be enough to cause Bowe to box and move, as I think Foreman was much stronger than Bowe physically. But simply being strong as a bull doesn't win fights. You have to land punches, you have to avoid punches, you have to move, pivot, turn, etc. Riddick Bowe was a very good heavyweight with solid skills -- the kind of fighter that Foreman did not want to fight unless he absolutely had to.

Unless Foreman were to land a lucky punch, I don't see how he could beat Riddick Bowe. And the thing is, Foreman's punch was not that devastating at that point in his career. Sure, he knocked over a bunch of hapless bums or inactive has-beens (like Cooney), but how many good, strong, big heavyweights did George stop? Or even drop? And while I think Foreman probably hit harder than Riddick Bowe, I don't think he hit THAT much harder. But the big difference would be Bowe's speed and delivery system: he would throw more, land more, put more punches together, etc.

I think the fight would be a total mismatch.

 

well if alex stewart made mashed potatoes out of foremans face then i think bowe probably tkos him ....with foreman still standing up ...mercy stoppage by ref

 

Bowe beats the **** outta 90s Foreman. George knew it too. He wanted no parts of Bowe. I mean, I could see 91 Foreman hurting Bowe a few times, but other than that it'd be all Bowe.

70s Foreman? Now THAT'S a different story for Bowe.

 

Yeah, look, I think that Bowe is way overrated and that he's not all that. And I think that Old Foreman had a pretty nasty jab, and excellent chin and still had the power to put lots of people to sleep.

But Bowe should win this a large percentage of the time; I think Old Foreman makes it a tough night at the office for Bowe, but that Bowe eventually does win.

Young Foreman is a different thing entirely. I think he beats Bowe like a drum.

 

George Foreman wins 2 outta 10 and by KO

 

Bowe....Foreman on air stated he didn't want to fight bowe,he took the Morrison fight thinking he would k.o him ,against Bowe he knew a big good boxer would most likely beat him.This was around 94,but I think the same ooutcome happens..bowe by decision win.

 

I'm no Bowe guy I think he's vastly overrated but this is all wrong for George. Bowe would fight back when hit and his superior hand speed, youth and infighting would do a number on George. I think he stops George on his feet around the 8th

 

Foreman would give Bowe a fight and would have a punchers chance as Bowe was easy to hit and hurt and dropped by lighter punchers.

But style wise this match up favours Bowe. Foreman doesn't have the movement to trouble Bowe. Bowe would beat Foreman to the punch and was better on the inside and that combined with his work rate and youth would see him win and perhaps even stop Foreman late.