Prime Riddick Bowe vs Prime Vitali Klitschko

Thats pretty funny

 

-I'm not criticizing Bowe for doing what he had to do. But making a point of how barren the division was at this particular time.

-Yes, he fought and beat a prime Holyfield once. Nevermind that at this time, Evander was generally regarded as a weak Champion benefiting from crap competition mind you. Yet this somehow trumps being a domintant fighter for a decade? Wlad has the odd losses but overall his success rate is phenominal for anybody on any timeline. Are we really sure we aren't giving too much credit to Bowe's one bright shining day in the sun?

 

Bowe by a wide UD

 

Whatever he was regarded as at the time doesnt change the fact that he wasnt a weak champion, and the early 90's were also compared to the 80's which had a larger and more diverse skilled crop of contenders. The heavyweight division has been in a progression down since the early 90's, but thats a whole different discussion.
Holyfield is a top ten ATG fighter and he proved it. Bowe fought competitively and closely with Holyfield three times regardless of any of the outcomes. It was two highly skilled fighters showing a range of complete skillset.
Lewis and Tyson are criticized for never beating another ATG in their respective prime although they dominated their eras.
To me the Klitschkos fall under this same criticism, only their level of competition is far worse, less risky, and its blatantly obvious in the way the fights play out. The idea that they are that much better, is shot down by the fact that Vitali was quickly broken down by a faded Lewis, and his inability to fight through mental setbacks and injuries. Same goes for Wlad.
What makes a dominant champion, is their ability to showcase a wide range of skills, change their styles, and fight through adversity. Thats what is missing from the Klitschkos, and because the level of opposition is so weak, it rarely surfaces and allows them to fight and win in a limited style.

 

-The same does not go for Wlad. Wlad has got off the canvas against Peter to win, Wlad was hurt by Barrett and won, he has been out landed by Thompson and won, he has been fouled repeatedly by Nicholson and won, he was won with cuts numerous times, he has lost rounds to Brock and won, and he has won injured against Brewster.


-What makes a dominant champion? A Champion who dominates. How he dominates is not important. Perhaps Bowe could have benefited from a limiting style and physical conditioning..rather than burning out in his 20s with one great win to his credit. Bowe fights stupid, eats himsef out of the title scene, but he gets more respect than a man boxing at an elite level in his 30s? Very telling of what "greatness" is defined as.

 

You and I dont agree. Its alot easier to dominate mediocrity thats the point Im making. They are not showing their dominance like champions past. Drop Wlad into Bowe's era and he might be forgotten before he hits the top ten.
Its not only about getting hurt and getting up, its about showing more overall dimensions.

 

Engry Vitalu , it's a type of curry.:good

 

Yes, we certainly disagree.

Who's going to stop Wlad from getting into the top ten? Seldon, Tubbs, Cooper, and Coetzer. Please. Byrd and McCline were better than these guys. Wlad will suffer the odd upset of course, but Wlad's talent, conditioning, and persistence would make him a long time contender in any era. Seriously, a washed up Tony Tucker was a top 5 fighter in Bowe's era. Morrison was a top 10 regular without beating anybody. Foreman grabbed the lineal title! Yeah, I'm sure Wlad would be a nobody.

 

He was stopped by Lamond Brewster, Corrie Sanders and Ross Purrity. He also went life and death with Sam Peter. What makes you think some of the fighters your listed couldnt do the same?

 

I didn't say Wlad would go undefeated. He was prone to upsets, but he always came back stronger and beat top fighters to reclaim his ranking. As opposed to Bowe era top 10 regulars like Mercer and Morrison....who were just prone to upsets without the upswing. To suggest he wouldn't even make it to the top 10 is something this Fighting Weight character would say....you know the guy that only posts about the K-Brothers and knows absolutely nothing about boxing.

 

No what Im saying is there were enough fighters of that era that would approach the fight in a similar manner, pressure, more slugging, less laying back and boxing. This could very well end any type of consistency that Wlad has with weaker opposition that doesnt fight that way. Even the limited Seldon showed he could bang at times. Mercer, Morrison, Ruddock, Cooper, Dokes, Tucker, could all give him hell in the early part of the 90's.

Also Bowe didnt lose to Ross Purrity level fighters ever!

 

Evander was , at the time, highly underrated. This takes nothing away from Bowe fighting an all time great fight against an all time great champion in their first fight ... as time passed we began to see just how tough and how durable Holyfield really was and this puts Bowe's achievement in proper perspective ..

 

My point was not to discredit Holyfield but to bring up how barren the heavyweight scene was at the time Bowe was coming up. There was indeed a struggle to find credible contenders..which is why Big Daddy got a Championship fight so quickly and easily without a single top 10 win to his credit.

 

Top ten of what? He fought the #1 contender of the WBA. He had to be in the top ten of the WBA rankings, and Im sure other sanctioning bodies.

 

-I doubt Seldon and Cooper would give Wlad hell. Would probably be the Jefferson and Barrett fights all over again.

-Bowe didn't have to fight Morrison, Mercer, and Ruddock to find his way into a title fight and regular top 10 status. Why should Wlad? Kind of unfair that Bowe gets a pass by beating the best of fringe and Wlad would have to duke it out with the prospects and top 5 contenders.

-Really, I think Wlad would be brought up like Lewis against moderate top 10 fighters, we'd see an upset or two, and a gradual rebuilding. His career almost mirrors Lennox as is.