Riddick Bowe vs George Foreman in 96

Foreman at this point in his career was going the distance with likes of Crawford Grimsley, going life and death with Lou Savarese, and whilst he did deserve to edge Briggs in their fight. I still think a faded version of Bowe would outpoint Big George despite Bowe's lack of defence, if Savarese can take everything Big George could dish out i see no reason why Bowe couldn't.

 

I think this might be the most likely scenario.

 

I think George would rock Bowe just enough to make him cautious so Bowe would box and get a wide UD . Not really close, 8-4 , 9-3.

 

Bowe "should" have enough to outpoint Foreman in 96. Foreman was moving like a mummy at this point and like others have said, was consistently going the distance with guys he would of mopped up in his younger (even maybe 5-6 years earlier) days. Bowe was looking faded in 96 as well and this really was the end of Bowe's career remarkably before he was 30 if I'm remembering this right.

Bowe of Golota 2, though obviously not as good as 93 Bowe, did give Golota a tough fight that he was losing but Golota couldn't help himself and got DQdm. Bowe of Golota 1 came in overweight and under prepared.

So Ill go with Bowe winning a decision, but he takes some lumps along the way as he liked to trade and Foreman wasn't exactly hard to find so he lands enough shots to take rounds. If Bowe of Golota 1 shows up I'll go with Foreman but I'm guessing Bowe gets motivated for a Foreman fight.

 

I'm actually going with Foreman by a decision. Bowe was only able to fight in spurts.

 

Bowe had nothing left after Golota. Nothing. He lost it all that night. I can’t pick him with any confidence. The type of beating he took has rarely been seen. Foreman might tap him on chin and he could go. He didn’t have another big effort left in him. I suspect the fight would be a huge dud and both men would look ancient.

 

George Foreman did not look particularly good to me in 1996, but Riddick Bowe looked worse to me. I'd go with Big George by close decision over 12 rounds.

 

I think people are forgetting Bowe was considered number 1 Heavyweight in the world in 96 after stopping Holyfield. Bowe was out of shape and took Golota lightly in their 1st meeting, in his own words "why do i have to train so hard to beat a bum". Golota was considered an easy fight for Bowe, but it turned out Golota was actually pretty skillful and had a troubling style for Bowe.

Overall if Bowe had fought Foreman instead of Golota, i don't think Bowe would of been as out of shape vs Foreman. As it would be a fight Bowe would be more motivated for, remember a motivated Bowe lost 50 pounds in rematch for Golota, so he could still get motivated. But the problem was there he lost too much weight too quickly which made him weak for the rematch.

 

Foreman might rock him and do enough to get respect but I see a Bowe decision.

 

Bowe was very lucky to get by Holyfield in the third fight. Had Holyfield not gassed out he would have stopped Bowe. Bowe's chin was really started to decline. Foreman still hit a lot harder than Golota even in 96.

 

Foreman couldn't stop Savarese after hitting him with everything but the kitchen sink, and also went the distance with Crawford Grimsley and Shannon Briggs after hitting them with plenty of punches. Foreman's power wasn't as much of a threat in his final few fights compared to what it had been.

 

I have to go with Foreman. Even though he was pretty delapidated by then, he still had enough to arguably beat Briggs and go the distance with Schultz / Savarese. Bowe took an absolute hammering in the Golota fights and I don't think he should have been boxing period after those. George still had that chin and his big punch.

 

Bowe before the Golota fights I'd agree might be favoured to beat Foreman.

 

Bowe was out of shape vs Golota the 1st time and underestimated him, and the 2nd time he was weight drained after having lost 50 pounds in 8 weeks and was a walking zombie. Bowe wouldn't of underestimated Foreman, and would of had still enough left in the tank to get the job done. As i said if fighters like Grimsley, Savarese, can take everything that Foreman can dish out. I see no reason why Bowe can't and win decision. Savarese barely lost to Foreman in a razor thin close fight, a faded Bowe is still a level above the likes of Savarese.