Prime Riddick Bowe vs. Vitali Klitschko

I go back and forth on this one and always have. Ten years ago, If asked, I would have readily picked Bowe to thrash Vitali Klitschko, but looking back I'm not so sure anymore. While Vitali had his limitations, Bowe often relied too heavily on his ability to impose himself physically on his ( usually ) smaller foes. This is something he would not have the luxury of doing in this scenario. While his chin was solid, his defense was poor and regularly got hit and hurt by fighters who could throw consistently good strait punches, ie. Golata, Holyfield, Tubbs, etc.. I'm still not sold on the outcome one way or another, but something tells me Vitali might be a problem for him.

 

This would go down like the VK/Lewis fight, except Bowe would maul him even worse , would not gas like Lewis and those short hooks and uppercuts would do some major damage.

 

I think Klitchko beats him up and wins a decision, or stops him late..

I wish these 2 guys could have met but , by the time Vitali got established Bowe was finished from getting the **** kicked outta him by Golota...

 

I like Bowe, the best of Vitali could not beat the worst of Lewis, and there was not much between Lewis and Bowe imo. Bowe takes a clear decision from Vitali.

 

The best of Vitali WAS beating Lewis until TKO6, although Lewis was coming on stronger..

Vitali got dis.

 

Vitali lost, therefore he could not beat him ,end of. See my post on the Holyfield v Klitschko thread.

 

Bowe never faced a man of Vitali's size that could fight. Bowe liked to enforce his physical will on fighters as the bigger man that wouldn't work here, plus he struggled with good jabs and Vitali has an unorthodox yet good one. Tough fight but I think Bowe has problems when he is pushed back. I see V. Klitschko taking a unanimous deciscion. Perhaps Bowe could force a cut like Lewis did and win but I don't see him winning on the cards or knocking Vitali out.
As for Klitshcko Lewis I don't agree that Klitschko had the psychological edge for two reasons. One I feel a great champ -which Lewis was- always has the edge as champion over the contender. And two I always felt early in the Klitschko career (pre champions) that their biggest flaws were their lack of self confidence. Vitali has always looked better to me after the Lewis fight when he knew he belonged than before it.

 

The only man that Vitali faced that was Bowe's size, and was any good was a 38years old undertained Lewis and he got stopped.

 

Stopped on cut in a fight he was winning. I stated that Bowe would have a chance to do the same. Vitali likes to box from range, where as Bowe often would move in and physically overwhelm a smaller fighter. I think that would be ruled out here, and he would need a plan B. It's an interesting matchup I don't want to dismiss Vitali because he lost to an ATG in a competitive matchup on a cut. I've seen Bowe outboxed by Golota twice and out worked by Holyfield. Granted he was undertrained in first fight with Golota and overcompensated in rematch I guess neither fight was prime Bowe. Problem with judging Bowe is his prime was so short and outside of Holyfield he missed all the big names of his era. No tyson, foreman, Moorer, Lewis etc. to really gage him.

 

Vitali was in front but fading. What big names has Vitali beat?

 

Timo Hoffman?

Manuel Charr?

Albert "The Dragon" Sosnoski?

 

Bowe was to skillful and had one of the greatest trainers ever in his corner.

Vitali is way too predictable and limited for Bowe and Futch.

2002 Lewis had nothing on an early 90s prime Bowe. There is no case for Vitali here.

 

Max Kellerman, who was a rather antagonistic toward of Vitali at the time said Lewis crashed down on his stool after the end of the 6th round. Kellerman went on to say he never saw Lewis so tired.

Vital had plenty of energy left and we saw if after he learned the fight was stopped on cuts.

Bowe had trouble with bigger skilled guys. He was dropped before facing Lewis in the Olympics, and Lewis showed how easily it was to get to Bowe with the right hand. Vitali has an easy target here with his jab and right, as shown thought’s Bowe amateur, and pro career which includes getting hit easily by the likes of Tubbs and Golota. Bowe just never learned defense. Vitali on the other hand is very good at moving his head and feet to avoid the incoming, and was never out jabbed or outscored by anyone.

Vitali and Bowe share some common opponents. Donald made Bowe look slow in a decision loss, Vitali knocked Donald out. Hide stung Bowe, who called him the hardest puncher he fought. Bowe won in five rounds over Hide. Vitali finished Hide in two.

Best guess is here Vitali via late round TKO