Riddick Bowe vs Vitali Klitschko

Cmon, Vitali couldnt carry a retiring Lennox Lewis' jockstrap. Prime Bowe was a monster offensive fighter. You cant block an overhand right anyway, especially thrown from a guy thats 6'5!

 

First, you CAN block a sloppy, arching overhand right...but what you suggest in back-handed fashion is that Bowe would need a straight right...and THAT he didn't have.

Besides, Vitali is WAY more focused than Bowe ever was.

 

You ever see anyone block Bowes righthand? Watch the Gonzalez fight and you'll basically see how Bowe would deal with a taller man thats back pedaling (not to suggest Gonzalez is in Vitali's league). Not sure I would classify Bowes overhand right as sloppy either he got good leverage for a big man.

 

He had leverage on his sloppy arching overhand right - yes.

Gonzalez and Vitali are a hemisphere apart in terms of ability, focus, professionalism and grit.

 

The problem with me and Riddick Bowe and I often get into pissing matches about him, is because I saw a very good fighter coming up the ranks. I saw a guy who showed tremendous championship heart in taking Evander Holyfields title. No fighter up until that point or after was able to do to that version of Evander Holyfield what Bowe did. Even in the Golota fights the shell of Bowe was still able to make Golota foul out and quit. Has Vitali ever faced a fighter like that even? How would he respond to Bowe who would basically have to be KO'd to stop him. Hes never come out of a tough grueling fight on top even with a depleted great fighter.
That took focus, determination and ten tons more grit than Vitali has ever shown in his career. That in itself is what propels a fighter with less physical attributes to conquer bigger stronger men, and what what Evander made a career out of. So when you factor that in with Bowe's size and ability at his best, he was truly one of the great talents.
That being said, it was short lived and wasted by his total lack of understanding that staying in shape was paramount for competing on the championship level regardless of what opponent was in front of him.
So really Bowe peaked at the first Evander Holyfield fight, that was the best he could be, and what I usually think of when comparing him to other fighters. What would Bowe at his best do to Vitali K. If your speaking of the Bowe that fought Herbie Hide, or Golota, thats a different story, and I fully understand why most people dont think highly of him, but talent for talent, Bowe was a better fighter than Vitali in all departments.

 

Rubber Warrior nails it.

 

Prime vs Prime, Bowe edges Kltiscko on decision.

 

If its Bowe on an average night he loses. Prime Bowe stops Vitali within 9 rounds. Bowe had the strength and inside game to wreck havoc with Vitali in close. Prime Bowes jab would also do its work setting up a huge overhand right that ends the fight.

 

Bowe decision, Vitali couldn't use his height advantage and looses in the jabbing, Bowe ha too much power for him as well and on the inside Vitali gets screwed

 

Bowe by KO 2nd round.

 

this, although bowe could box decently if he decieded to

 

Bowe was getting outjabbed by Golota. Vitali has a similar thudding jab to Golota's, plus a considerable height advantage. I don't see what you're basing Bowe's chances on here.

 

This is a bit too simplistic a comparison I think.

Lennox was a much more educated fighter than Bowe. Always was. He had a better jab, a better command of distance, and just a much better understanding of the basics of the sport. Bowe was a high class brawler with a few useful tools. His jab was good but he had a very poor understanding of how to use it as a big man should. His feet were plodding, his defensive reflexes slow. A lot of the time he would just let fighters get into his chest then duke it out with them, trusting to his size, heart and chin to get the better of the exchanges. Being the bigger man, he usually did, but against fighters who were able to maintain their distance whilst lading their own shots or fight fire with fire he had trouble.

The sorts of things Lennox did to catch Vitali are not the sorts of things Bowe is likely to do, even the young version that fought Evander. Lennox caught Vitali because of his good timing, rhythm varying and quick step ins. Watch the beginning of round three of their fight. Lennox doesn't just plod forward, he leaps in behind a heavy jab, catching Vitali off balance, then cannons the right into his head. Bowe doesn't do that. He stalks you behind an inconsistent jab then starts brawling if you get into his chest. He's far more likely to fight an Arreola type fight, nowhere near as crude of course, but predictable and readable. If he can walk through Vit's best shots to get on the inside then he'll have success, especially if he can drag Vittles into a slugging match, but he can equally find himself getting kept at bay by Vitali's thudding jab and finding his overhands whiffing past as Vitali leans back out of range. An outside fight does not favour Bowe in any way.

 

This clearly say prime vs prime and clearly Bowe wasn't ''prime'' in the Golota fights i thought that was well known...
Bowes reflexes had diminished, he said it was the first time a guy could jab him at will including Lennox Lewis and his doctor said they couldnt believe how much he had diminished for being so young his life took a till on his skills. So he could have kept away if he wasnt a shell of what he was