Larry Holmes vs Riddick Bowe

For the record, Mercer "ducked" Michael Moorer, not Bowe, in favor of fighting Larry Holmes. Moorer was the WBO mandatory at the time.

I don't think Holmes really wanted to fight Bowe. Bowe was too skilled, too big, and he had all the tools to bother a guy like Larry: long jab, height, mobility, etc. Holmes ended up fighting Mercer for a reason - Mercer was much less-skilled than Bowe or even Lewis at the time.

 

Even 90s Holmes would have had a very good chance against Bowe . Guys with poor movement no defense and an inability to handle a jab would always have a very hard time against any version of Holmes.

Prime Holmes vs prime Bowe at best Bowe wins 3 rounds.

 

The Larry Holmes of 1991 to 1995 was still cagey and skilled; plus durable.... But he was in his 40s and had slowed down on his feet a great deal.... Hmmmm.... NO! My man Larry Holmes can't beat a young Riddick Bowe in 1991 thru 1993, or until 1995.... Larry Holmes was still great in the 1990s, but a tad too old and slow for the naturally bigger and younger Riddick Bowe who had all his skills intact......

MR.BILL

P.S.

Holmes is indeed the greater All-Time heavyweight in history, but he would've lost to Bowe in 1991-1995.......

NOTE:

Oddly though, the Holmes of 1999 who was beating the **** outta Bonecrusher Smith on PPV actually had more in the gas tank then Bowe had at that time, and I think Holmes would beat that Bowe..... By 1999, Bowe was rusty, fat and disinterested in boxing.... Meanwhile, Holmes fought some more beating Mike Weaver and Butterbean between 2000-2002......

 

I agree with you MR. BILL. If this were prime for prime I go with Holmes no doubt not only on sheer talent but mental toughness as well.

 

in 91 holmes just wasn't about to get into bowes mind like he did mercer...bowe puts holmes on his pants a time or two .. late stoppage wide dec ..

 

From what I've seen most of the asinine **** Foreman has said has been about himself. But about other fighters, he's spot on a lot of the time.

 

He's yet to make up his mind on who the greatest heavyweight was. He'll say whatever will please the people he's talking to.

 

Mercer never ducked Bowe despite what his management claim Mercer always said he would beat Bowe and that Riddick had no heart they shared a room in the 88 Olympic and apparently Bowe was always worried he was gonna lose and Mercer said he felt Bowe didn't have the heart of a fighter. At the time Bowe would have won although he did get out boxed by Tubbs so you never know. In their prime Holmes destroys him a terrible style he wins either a late stoppage due to a mass amount of punishment or a huge decision loss like 11-4 or 12-3.

 

Holmes may have done well with Bowe back then. He was cagey and smart whereas Bowe was arrogant and talented. A lesser fighter in Tony Tubbs made Bowe look very bad. To me it was all about maximizing the money, minimizing the risk. Mercer had the belt and he lacked dimension. On the flipside, beating Holmes was a distinct possibility for Bowe, but could Riddick and crew risk looking "bad"?