I've made my case, but if you want to believe that his prime was 10 months after he beat Seldon and against an opponent that I wouldn't exactly describe as being leagues better with only Tillary, Nelson and Martin in between then run with it. I also think it was a good effort at not appearing to reverse your philosophy by using Peralta going 10 rounds with Foreman in 1971.. How many people would have picked Peralta to go 10 rounds with Foreman in 1974? My guess is very few.
Well it's not what I want to believe so much as what he shows. He clearly looks better to me against Holyfield than what he actually shows in those 90 seconds. I mean even if he was as good as he was against Holyfield, he absolutely didn't get the chance to show that. Which makes it, just to me, a strange point to pick as the exact (as far as that goes) start of his prime.
Coetzer was leagues better than Seldon. Can't imagaine Pierre falling down from missed punches. Seldon's performance against Bowe was an audition of the Tyson debacle.
When you lose to a gate keeper like Ossie Ocasio in your own home town and don't look much better in the rematch ( also at home ) it doesn't make much of a case for being "leagues" better than anybody.
I will say that a young, motivated, in shape Bowe is one of the best HWs I've ever seen on film. He was a really diverse & complete fighter offensively at his prime and would be a threat against any ATG HW, ever. He had a really good underrated jab, when he was set on using it, his jab was an effective weapon. Great combination punching, especially considering it's from a big man. Had one of the best 1-2's I've seen from a heavyweight next to Ali, Holyfield, Wlad, Liston, Lewis or Holmes. of course his pure strength & size on the inside is a f*cking problem for any heavyweight. he had great inside skills and was capable on the outside also. I think if you pit prime Bowe against prime Tyson, Lewis, Holmes, or Frazier he could very well win all of those fights. Lewis and Holmes would give him the toughest fights I think. The first Holyfield-Bowe fight shows great poise & skill from both guys. Probably the best exhibit of skill I've ever seen between two prime HWs. The next best example is Ali-Frazier I. Obviously the best version of Bowe we ever saw, and probably his best performance.
http://www.thesweetscience.com/news...-of-fame-talent-but-not-a-hall-of-fame-career This article is a good one. Rid**** Bowe had Hall of Fame Talent but not a Hall of Fame Career
I agree Bowe looked good on film but in the ring he never was impressive. ( Especially Golota 1 and 2,Tubbs,Biggs, Holyfield 2 and 3 fights.) Yes he beat a 205 pounds unbeaten Holyfield but say only one example when a 205 lbs Holyfield could beat a good fighter in the heavyweight division !
What does this even mean? It's one or the other.. if he looks good on film then he looks good in the ring by default.. Bowe had a very short prime, everybody knows that. he had dedication issues. 205 unbeaten Holyfield was a great fighter. Potentially a top 5 heavyweight of all time, yet it sounds like you are slighting Holyfield? Cooper, Mercer, Stewart, Holmes, Foreman, Tyson x2, arguably Lewis II, Moorer, Douglas, Thomas, Valuev, Bowe II, Rahman (still a win doe) etc. Holyfield has a perfectly fine HW resume and proven himself time and time again. ATG HW.