Riddick Bowe -vs-Wlad Klitschko…

It would 100% be interesting. Bowe is probably the popular pick here but tbh I don't know if he handles Wlads power and he had pretty poor defense.

 

Riddick Bowe could have beaten Wladimir pre-steward. But by the time Wlad had been working with Manny for about two years then you’d have to favor Wlad. The wiser more cautious form of Klitschko wouldn’t have toiled with Bowe on the inside which is where Riddick did his best work. Wlad would jab all night long from a distance and tie him up when needed. In that instance It probably goes 12 rounds with Bowe being badly swollen and losing by about 9 rounds to 3.

 

Young Wlad who was an all out offensive machine or older, willing to spoil Wlad?

 

I think Bowe makes a young Wlad panic, gets inside and beats Wlad's ass in fairly short order. I don't think Klitschko at that time had the composure to keep it together in a intelligent manner for 12 rounds against someone like Bowe. I think Riddick pushes the issue and Wlad breaks.

Steward trained Wlad boxes smart and probably escapes a few hairy moments to win by a few points.

 

Prime for prime… Wladimir. Bowe even at his best did get hit his fair share and against Wladimir that’s a BAD recipe. Would it be easy? No. But I think prime Wlad learned to focus much better when in trouble and became much more surgical with his jab. He’d wear down Bowe with his jab and power and probably stop him late after surviving a couple of storms.

 

Sounds good.

 

There is actual data showing how much Manny traind Wlad clinched per round. From this data you can calculate the percentage of each round Wlad was in close quarters contact with the other opponent.

Here's just one example of a fight in which Wlad spends the majority of a round engaged in close quarters clinching. And this was against a shot to pieces C leveller who moved in slow motion.

https://www.boxingnews24.com/2010/09/steward-was-telling-wladimir-to-stop-clinching-peter/

In the fight with prime Peter Harrold Ledderman called for Wlad to be DQ for holding so much.

Against Povetkin he broke the record for illegal clinching. The data shows he clinched Povetkin more than he punched him.

A guy who spends so much time engaged in clinching , who also has a weak chin and propensity to crumble under pressure , is fodder for the greatest inside fighting SHW of all time.

What will happen to Wlad in close is exactly what happened to Vitali against Lewis. Wlad hasn't the toughness or chin to endure more than a couple of rounds. You would see him turn his back and attempt to flee like he did against Peter , Povetkin and Fury.

 

My guess too. Bowe was tough and hit hard but his feet weren't great and his punches were often telegraphed. I can see him chasing Wlad all night and eating a healthy diet of jabs, straight rights and hooks off the jab. Maybe he could try rough Wlad up in the clinch like Pulev, idk. But I can't see him beating Wlad in a technical boxing match and you know darn well that Wlad would never fight him inside when he could hug him.

 

Can’t see Bowe beating the Klitschko from the Pulev fight for example, far too versatile, he’d set Bowe up for power punches, he’d start reading Bowe.

 

A soon as the bell ring Wlad is clinching worse than Lawrence Okoile

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Pulev , known for having no inside skill whatsoever so lets compare him to a guy who was one of the best the best inside fighters ever lol

 

Steward-trained or no, Wlad isn't able to cope with the level of offensive threat that Bowe brings.
Even Wlad's 'Povetkin Love-Push' strategy can't help him here.

 

Could be a real banger. Wlad could panic when hurt and under pressure, and he clinched a lot. Bowe stayed cool and was one of the worst guys to clinch due to his inside game and size. But Bowe was pretty hittable, and in against someone with Wlad’s power, that could go real wrong. For whatever reason, Wlad isn’t usually mentioned when we discuss hardest hitters ever at HW, when he should be fairly in the discussion. Dude had a monster right, and the fact he was a glass cannon doesn’t take away from that.

great fantasy fight.

 

Experienced, cautious and wise Wlad (Steward Wlad) would manage to clinch and job his way to win on points.