Larry Holmes vs. Riddick Bowe

I think Holmes is one of the worst possible matches for Bowe. In fact, in a recent thread I argued he might be the worst possible match for Bowe.

Bowe's jab always seemed to fail him when someone was willing to stick a jab back with him, and Holmes was a superior jabber if anything. Bowe's punching motion for his big shots was anything but efficient, his power punches mostly consisted of wide hooks and overhand rights that had a big windup in the motion. Holmes, with his much more efficient delivery, would be routinely beating Bowe to the punch.

Larry's also simply a better, smoother performer in the ring and a better ring general. Bowe wasn't great at dealing with the unexpected, at time he would obviously and visibly be thinking out his next move in the ring while meanwhile his wheels would be spinning in the mud, as it were. Plus Bowe was prone to standing around after a punch to see how it affected another fighter. I won't claim to have watched Larry's entire career, but that's a sin I've never seen him commit.

And given Larry's chin and tremendous ability to come back from being hurt, I don't think Bowe has what it takes to KO him.

Larry by UD for me.

 

I agree with this. Holmes might get shaken a few times througout the fight, but I think he controls most of the action and soundly outpoints Riddick. Bad styles matchup.

 

Larry had the better speed, conditioning and movement and ring skills so I think he could take a close nod but can't count out Riddick and his right hand, always good, he would be the best Big opponent that Larry faced by far and the best opponent Larry faced except for Tyson...Riddick could win this with a KO

 

I think Larry Holmes' quickness and speed would trouble Bowe greatly. The young Larry Holmes was lightning fast. He would make Bowe look sluggish and slow. Bowe would be a tough night for Larry due to his style, size, and boxing skill, but I think in the end Holmes would outwork and outspeed Bowe.

 

HA! Yeah, Larry Holmes seems hell bent on surpassing George Foreman in the Girth department! Holmes looks down right obese now. And it's funny: the heavier Holmes gets, the more he looks Chinese! :yep

 

You couldn't miss Bowe with either the jab or the straight right hand. Holmes would feed him jabs like popcorn, hurt him with right hands, probably stop him late. Holmes was much more professional in his style, the way he threw punches, and in his demeanor.

 

Good summation. I agree with a lot of this. The thing with Holmes though is he never seemed to do well against tall guys with good jabs. Holmes' prolific jabbing ability seemed to based on his jabbing clinics against shorter, plodding types of fighters. Against the two best jabbers he faced during his championship reign - Witherspoon and Williams - he didn't do so well. Granted, Holmes might have been slightly past it by that point, but still, his jab was greatly nullified.
And Holmes never really developed a good left hook; he was always more of a one-two fighter: jab, right hand, jab, right hand.
Having a good left hook would serve him well against Bowe. And Bowe had a great left hook!

 

Holmes would've beaten Bowe with room to spare.

Jab too good, legs too good, stamina too good, and too smart for Bowe to handle.