Riddick Bowe Vs. Wladimir Klitschko

Wladmir (Outside Fighter) vs Bowe (Boxer Puncher/Slugger)

Power: Wladmir*
Chin: Bowe
Hand speed: Wladmir
Stamina: Bowe
Footwork: Wladmir
Accuracy: Wladmir
Ring IQ: Wladmir
Defense: Wladmir
Technique: Bowe
Combinations: Bowe
Versatility: Bowe

6-5 slight edge Wladmir

*(power is debatable). I think Wladmir is a tad more explosive.

I think this would be a very uncomfortable fight for Wladmir. Prime Bowe was a force to be reckoned with. He was a very physical fighter with plenty of size, strength, good fundamentals, good power, and almost never backed off. In some ways I could see this fight resembling the Samuel Peter and Joshua fights only worse because Bowe's technique was more polished than those two and he had the great Eddie Futch in his corner.

Both have great jabs, but Wladmir used his more often and I think he established it better in more of his fights. I think Bowe would mostly use his jab to bulldoze his way in and to attempt to back Wladmir up and set up his combinations. Essentially, this fight boils down to who can take control of the range and pace of the fight. Bowe cannot outpoint Wladmir on the outside so he will want to get close enough to land his thudding combinations. Wladmir would not want to mix it up with Bowe and would attempt to either counter punch or fight at a slower pace at long range.

Conclusion: the problem with Wladmir in this fight is that he would not be able to use his usual jab and grab tactics since Bowe is so big and strong. He also wouldn't have the stamina to simply get on his bike using lateral movement to stay away from Bowe. Even if he fights the perfect fight, Wladmir will be in the danger zone constantly since Bowe will never back off and has the durability to eat a shot or two to land one of his own. The flip side to this is that Bowe's chin wasn't tested that often and has a thin resume, but he clearly is more durable and has better stamina than Wladmir. I think this would be a grueling, close, and classic fight, but Bowe is in some ways the perfect counter to Wladmir. Bowe suffers some major damage, but should win by KO within 7-9 rounds.

 

I like prime Bowe. He makes Vlad fight at an uncomfortable pace and range for him. I think Bowe gets inside against Vlad which most guys had a hard time doing against Vlad but Bowe has the size, strength and aggressiveness to do just that.

 

Bowe had every kind of problem with Golota's jab and got busted up by him. Golota is a much lighter puncher than Wlad with a worse jab. Bowe's whooshing overhands would be dealt with, with contemptuous ease by the simple expedient of creating space. Bowe's superior infighting has little chance against Wlad's clinch. Bowe's defence has always been leaky and it's going to suck against a nuclear puncher like Wlad. I think Klitschko stops him in the second half of the fight.

 

At his best, which is a big if ,Bowe beats Wlad.

 

Jab - Bowe
Workrate - Bowe
Ring IQ - Bowe

Yes , Klitschko was very smart outside the ring. Inside the ring he never showed a high Ring IQ. Adaptability is Ring IQ and Wlad could not adapt , nor had he a plan B or the ability to compose himself under pressure.
The latter is what would be is complete undoing against Bowe.

 

Best-for-best - it's most likely Bowe. He's considerably better than anyone Wlad beat.

Peak Bowe brings a type of pressure that really doesn't suit Wlad's safety-first approach.

I suspect Bowe's mixed offensive of forward movement, combination punching, including overhand rights and hooks to body and head would have Wlad moving like a man on fire, sometime in the first half of the fight. At this point, Bowe is able to finish and tie a bow on the win.

 

Best for Best, Wlad takes this and retires Bowe. A highly disciplined A list athlete with sublime tools versus an undisciplined (both in and out of the ring) mediocre athlete who left openings you could drive a semi through. One is a Top Ten ATG, the other a footnote. KO11.

 

Wlad wouldn't resort to brawling like Holy. They are polar opposites. And Bowe would come to respect that right hand early, keeping this one at a distance.

 

So you think Wlad would do to Bowe what Puritty did to Wlad?

 

My guess is Klitschko wins by a decision unless he manages to get caught in a bad flurry that he can’t get out of

 

I make Wlad a slight favorite, but he has to follow the right fight plan, and I am not sure if he will.

 

Bowe by ko. Bowe was an excellent inside fighter and Wlad was rubbish inside. Throw punches at Wlad and he stops punching,Bowe didnt,Riddick also has a better chin to compensate for not having as much power.Prime for prime Bowe stops him.imo