Prime Riddick Bowe vs Anthony Joshua

The Bowe who beat Holyfield the first time vs the best version of Anthony Joshua. I might have to go with Bowe, however, he was relatively easy to hit and AJ can crack. If AJ lands as much leather as Holyfield did, Bowe could be in trouble.

 

You did this one October 2018 ffs.

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/riddick-bowe-vs-anthony-joshua.617858/

Do you start threads just to gain attention or what?

 

I avoid matching fighters when one of them, is still active.If Miller were to blow out AJ this June everyone will say Bowe would beat him.At this stage of his career I'd make Bowe the favourite but depending how Joshua's subsequent career unfolds that could easily change.

 

Bowe was never ko'ed....... even totally washed up......he had a aggressive come forward style and was able to rely on his chin in fire fights, something Lennox Lewis could not afford....... Holyfiedl was a lot more fluid than AJ plus had a almost granite chin.....the Bodybuilder was almost put out by a shot gun shy borderline glass chinned jab and grabber and if said Russian would have had any balls in him the Bodybuilder would have gotten ko'ed in the follow up......insert Bowe in the same scenerio and AJ is going to sleep... AJ is stiff as a board with zero head movement and likes to trade fairly up close= suicide against Bowe.....Bowe fought three minutes a round and would bring heat AJ has never seen before.......Bowe's chin and stamina are far superior to AJ.........Bowe had a short prime but the Eddie Futch trained version from Holyfield 1 will beat AJ 10 out of 10.....the pace alone would collapse the Bodybuilder.

Golata ? Bowe was pretty washed up by then and still made Golata quit twice= no low blow quit job and Bowe either stops Golata out right or makes him quit Tyson bout style.

 

We may have not have seen the best of AJ to date, so its difficult to say. AJ may get better as he matures.

 

At this stage of AJ’s career, Bowe stops him and maybe even early. Bowe had fantastic infighting skills for a big man and a sturdy enough chin to get inside AJ and take it there. AJ showed some weaknesses against Takam who isn’t half the fighter Bowe was. Bowe by KO in rounds 6-9 for me.

 

He's nearly 30, Raga. He needs to get his promoter to make meaningful matches while there's still a bit of fire in his belly.

In fact, even as hypothetical fights go, this would never happen. Joshua is the kind of banger that Rock Newman avoided. And Bowe of Holyfield 1 is the kind of skilled, big, prime heavyweight that Eddie Hearn swerves away from, it is starting to appear.

 

Tough to call a winner due to both possessing formidable skills but at present I'd have to lean towards Bowe wearing Joshua down and eventually catching him with something. Time will tell whether or not I'd still make the same call in a few years time when AJ is at the end of his career. Great fight.

 

Thanks for all the likes guys.
Glad to see we are in agreement.

 

AJ wouldnt be hitting Bowe as often as Evander did. And in any case Evander himself didn't hit Bowe that often, at least in the first fight. Bowe's lack of defense is becoming overstated, he could move his head when he needed to. As of now Bowe wins a fairly wide UD

 

Right now the safe money is on Bowe but AJ can really hit and throws good combinations on the outside and inside. Outside of George Chuvalo, Ray Mercer or Oliver McCall I don't think any heavyweight can afford to stand and trade with Joshua. But Joshua doesn't move his head enough and is hittable, especially with the right hand. Bowe would cause him lots of problems for sure and with his greater experience you'd have to make him the favourite. But as others have mentioned, AJ's career is far from over and he is improving..

 

But since AJ hit harder than Holyfield, a single shot from AJ would do more damage than a single shot from Holyfield so AJ could do more with less.

 

Yes, he would. But imo lesser fighters than Bowe have shown that Joshua's power is not an insurmountable problem.

 

I'd favor Bowe at this point.

 

Joshua is way more consistent. Joshua would've ****ed him up.