That's your opinion, to me he didn't show that throughout his career. Even if you believe that he's top 10 HW ever in terms of peak (he has no case for top 5), you can't deny that his defense was mediocre.
We both know he was very lazy, so he couldn't have shown that throughout his career. I just said in terms of peak form. And even with average defense, he was still good enough
I don't deny he was a great fighter at his best, but top 5 gives him way too much credit for my taste.
He certainly had the ability to be top 5-10 in heavyweight history. If he had the discipline of prime Ali, or Holyfield? He may still be champ.
Inarguably: Joe Louis Sonny Liston Muhammad Ali George Foreman Larry Holmes Lennox Lewis Wladimir Klitschko I don't even name smaller or oldschool fighter to prevent from unnecessary controversies.
Bowe-Vitali just leaves me very very confused whenever I think about it. I think about that fight a lot and always end up no further on.
I think that Wladimir would beat someone with as questionable defense as Bowe. Of course I'm talking about the peak version of Klitschko, he'd have to be 100% prepared and focused.
That's only 7 people, so he's not that far from top 5. I definitely don't have Louis and I'm not exactly sure about Foreman and Lewis either. I do have Tyson though.