Prime Foreman vs Riddick Bowe

Foreman by KO Bowe was too hittable and has a leaky defense, he could brawl with the smaller Holyfield. But against an ATG puncher like Foreman he ends up on his back.

 

I agree, I don't see Bowe coming out of this fight not getting ktfo.

 

I fancy Foreman as well. Bowe avoided the punchers for a reason.

 

He was, I just see him taking a lot of hard shots very early on, and getting stopped.

 

Foreman wasn't at his best then that was a sloppy version of Foreman coming off a lay off, Lyle is also a much bigger puncher than anyone Bowe fought.

 

Common sense needs to be applied here.

Bowe has an excellent chin. Foreman is not likely to get him early.

Foreman walking straight forward at Bowe is a recipe for disaster. Not following a puncher and all that… The Lyle fight does exist.

It’s all very well saying Holyfield landed a lot. Can Foreman throw right hands and counter like that? Come on. I don’t deny Foreman was not a great puncher, but the difference in speed and technique is sizeable.

Bowe’s bad defense is overplayed. Hardly a defensive wizard but I think his defense when he’s ‘slugging’ is better than Lewis’, Vitali’s etc.

Same story with Foreman’s bad stamina. Overplayed. But he could get in trouble if it gets late because Bowe has very good stamina.

I’ll go Bowe but understand arguments for Foreman.

 

I would say Bowe having an excellent chin is an exaggeration, he never fought any punchers and only fought 1 elite fighter in Holyfield who isn't noted as a big puncher.

If Bowe gets hit by Foreman with even half the amount of punches Holyfield hit him with he'll be flat on his back.

 

Foreman.

Comparable if not better jab, harder to adapt to style, more disciplined, all-time great dynamite in his gloves, less hittable at his best. Bowe is better inside, but Foreman's range of operation is mid-late and he is ruthless at enforcing it.

 

Bowe has proven himself against one ATG boxer in his career (and he lost one fight). Bowe made the world champion look like he was being stung by bees, and Foreman knocked the world champion down 6 times in two rounds.
If Bowe (as I think he should have) lost both fights against Golot we would look at this topic differently.
Foreman wins by knockout.

 

Bowe had an iron chin. Was down 1 time in his career from Holyfield in 3 wars. And got teed off on by Golata when he took diet pills instead of training properly. He also took flush right hands from Lewis well but ruled a knock out because it was an amateur fight.

Forman was knocked out by Ali and almost out by Lyle. Holyfield was knocked out by Bowe and James Tony. Both these two have great chins Bowes is arguably better.

Bowe would either ud Foreman or knock him out. More skilled, longer reach with more stamina. Forman always has a punchers chance though but so does Bowe.

 

Down 3 times in his career once by Holyfield and twice by Golota, where is the evidence that Bowe has an iron chin ? Holyfield is not noted as a puncher and basically almost knocked him out in their 3rd fight with one left hook but didn't have energy to finish him off.

I would say Bowe has an above average chin but the fact he's untested vs any of the notable punchers in his era, i would say an iron chin is a bit of an over statement. How would Bowe fare taking punches off the likes off Ruddock, Tyson, Bruno, Witherspoon, Mercer, Morrison, etc ? if he traded with them with his leaky defence ?

Ali made Foreman punch himself it wasn't Foreman's chin it was exhaustion, pretty much no Heavyweight in history could lay on the ropes vs Foreman and allow him to tee off in the hopes of Foreman punching himself out.

Foreman as i said was coming off a lay off vs Lyle and fought a sloppy fight vs a noted puncher, we'd be talking about the Foreman between 71-74 up to the Norton fight which is the best version of Foreman.

Bowe likes to trade and doesn't really use his height and reach like other big men, he likes to fight on the inside which is where he normally does his best work. It's fine to do that vs the smaller Holyfield who isn't noted puncher, a bit different to do it vs an ATG puncher.

Bowe's lack of notable opponent's who could hit is bit of an asterisk.

 

This is an interesting match up and I do not usually pick someone to be stopped who was never stopped as a Professional. In this case I have to make an exception and pick George Foreman to stop Riddick Bowe sometime between the 5th and 8th rounds. I just cannot envision Riddick Bowe hanging in there for 12 rounds with George Foreman's punching power.

 

Neither men were defensive wizards and both could hit hard. Foreman a bit harder. Bowe was bigger and had better stamina. Both had solid chins. This could be a tossup