Riddick Bowe vs Vitali Klitschko Prime

Key notes, Bowe/Lewis was pre pros and Bowe was shot during Golota still winning those bouts bcuz Golota was obsessed with stopping Bowe from having anymore kids.


At their best, I see Bowe by decision just think he was a better fighter but not as technically sound hence Vitalis longevity in comparison. Outside of Holyfield n Lewis, not much noteworthy names on eithers resume but the Bowe love here goes overboard imho. Saying this as someone who does like watching Bowe fights but tbh I do think he squandered his talent as many others do too.

 

Lewis was green AF and he mopped Bowe up.

Lewis was the one who looked like he was dying of a heart attack

Except for a few times like when he fought Golota that he looked half dead once he blew his wad.

Absurd fanboyist comment. Bowe ran from Lewis like he'd seen the Grim Reaper coming to tax his ass.

 

Those beatings ended his career and Golota is hardly a big puncher

 

He walked down Holyfield without moving back. Even Foreman couldn’t do that.

 

Vitali wins UD 8/10 and 2/10 stoppage

 

Bowe faced another decent big man and it showed. No more bully.

 

I am confused now.The title clearly indicates prime Bowe.Yet some folks prefer to refer to Golota version of Bowe

 

Bowe was prime when fighting midgets and featherfists

 

The Golata Version wasn’t prime of course. Bowe was visibly deteriorating and Eddie Futch was no longer in his corner. Couple that with Golatas dirty tactics and it made for an all around bad couple of nights.. but that said I’m not sure if even favor the 1992 version of Bowe who beat Holyfield over Klitschko either. Sure it would have been a very tough fight and Riddick might have gotten lucky. But he relied too heavily on being physical with his opponents to beat a bigger, stronger and equally durable man. Sure he destroyed the giant Jorge Gonzalez but let’s be honest. That guy was garbage in the pros. And with bowes lack of defense I think Vitalis jab and cross would land often

 

Who did Bowe gas out with body punches? Who did Bowe beat on a similar level of a similar size? The only similar fighter he fought was Golota who he was too stupid for.

 

He still won....twice.............no low blows and Golata gets stopped or quits.....well, he did quit while fouling out twice

VK quit vs a genuine feather fist and had his face carved up like a Thanksgiving dinner by a old over weight Lewis with one and a half foot out the door..........I take a Golata quit job win all day over a TKO6 LOSS

Beating Evander Holyfield two out of three, some say three out of three trumps everything VK did in his entire career .Fact

 

He was on his way to defeat in both Golota fights and retired afterwards due to the beatings he received whereas Vitali fought successfully into his 40s. Hilarious argument. Even a faded Lewis seems levels above Golota

By this logic Hasim Rahman is greater than Larry Holmes

 

Look bruh , everybody knows Vitali was on a totally different level than Bowe when it came to dedication and commitment. Bowe sucked in that area. But longevity doesn't count when its best against best on one night. This ain't top trumps.

Vitlai can beat Sam Peter's and Chris Arreola's 20 times , but he can't beat a Lennox Lewis once. A faded , overweight and slow Lennox Lewis at that.
A loss to the worst version of Lewis say a LOT more about his chances against bowe than any one of his wins does.

Furthermore , Golota pinned Bowe against the ropes and went to town. Hitting Bowe with a melody of uppercuts , hooks etc. Good inside performance.

Vitali had Kevin Johnson against the ropes and look like a bouffon. He couldn't hit him and missed 800 punches.

There a big difference in styles between Golota and Vitali. Golota was trained all rounded style by Lou Duva.. Vitali trained upright , Euro style by Fritz Sundek.

Vitali was a pure out-boxer and never sought to work anybody over in close. Lennox Lewis figured that out after a couple of rounds which his why he changed tactics to an in-close dog fight. In the pocket Vitali had zero answers.

Vitali has only one range and its from the outside. Bowe is longer , rangier and faster. Which means he is better from the outside but also vastly superior on the inside as we all know. Therefore Vitali has very little variable for success in this mactch-up.

 

Bowe fought Lewis once - the greenest, worst version of Lewis - and he got stopped in two. He had the opportunity to avenge that loss and instead ran like a girl. Vitali lost to Lewis in an epic brawl and wanted more. It was Lewis that bottled it. If Bowe didn't have the nuts to fight Lewis once in the pros how's he going to beat Vitali? Face-first Bowe would eat more punches vs Vitali than he did in any other of his fights.

 

A green Lewis? Lol Bowe was the novice there. Lewis was what 23 in the olympics. Bowe completely outboxed him and looked much the superior talent.

The elephant in the room regarding Lewis’ career is the talent just isn’t there. Physical measurements are his best talents! The Lewis who got knocked out by McCall, outboxed by Bruno was the pro version of the guy who looked way less talented than Bowe! Was he green at 29??? Or just not that good in the first place.

Lewis is a very overrated fighter on these forums.