Riddick Bowe

Maybe we should give SuzieQ a break here. After all, he's got to hang out with Bowe everyday. I alwaysliked Bowe as a fighter and I was looking forward to that Tyson fight that never happened. I'd always heard, probably boxing PR bull, that neither wanted to fight the other, "friends" from their Bed-Stuy days, but what a war that would have been. I think Riddick had the style and the physical attributes to make it very interesting. But I gotta say that Golota had his number. Golota, an ******* or a phenomenal head-case, had a hitch in his brain, some self-destructive streak, no?

 

I can well understand your enthusiasm at meeting a former heavy weight Champ,but personally I would prefer it if Riddick hung them up for good ,his day is done,more fights will do him no good physically , or mentally and the money wouldnt be much in comparison to his glory days.Its the old story what do athletes do when they retire,still comparatively young ,but too old for their chosen sport.Maybe he should open a sports bar ?

 

I think Riddick Bowe is one of those fighters who most fans are a bit off balance in terms of their views of him. On one hand, some drastically overrate him, while others injustly sell him short. By all standards, his record is very good, and one that warrants placing him somewhere in the top 15-20 best heavyweights of all time. Head to head, he might be a tad better though depending on who we match him against in fantasy fights. While I probably have Bowe around #15 and Marciano at #3, I am inclined to thinking that Bowe would beat him, as well as a few others who sit above him in all time ratings.

 

That guys 90s carreer is very overrated.

 

When are you going to find the chance and try and impress Bowe with your knowledge of heavyweight contenders from the 1950's?

 

I disagree.

Its easy to say in hindsite that him winning big fights at 40+, was no big deal given that numerous fighters have since fought past that age, but at the time, it was viewed as doing the impossible.

Before George Foreman's comeback, 40 was viewed as the gateway to old age. A time in life where greatness could no longer be acheived if you will. Foreman's slogan during his comeback years was " 40 is not a death sentence. " Since that time, athletes in all sports have extended their careers, and many have been successful. Sure, Foreman wasn't the first to do great things at that age as Archie Moore, Nolan Ryan, and Kareem Abdul Jabar had done so before him, but he probably took the concept to a higher level. Not to mention, the difference between Foreman and those other guys, is that he had actually resumed his career after 10 years of inactivity, whereas they had merely continued without ever pausing. People of all walks of life then began viewing middle age as an empty concept that was no longer an obstacle for acheiving substantial goals. Individuals everywhere began taking chances at changing careers. Taking bigger challenges, going back to school, having babies at 40, etc. Foreman's comeback not only did wonders for boxing, but it made a huge contribution to society as a whole.

As for his acheivments, well he managed to compile a comeback record of 31-3-26, which including winning the heavyweight title and beating several ranked fighters and unbeaten prospects. He also managed to survive a 10 year run between ages 38-48 without ever being stopped or KO'd despite fighting the likes of Michael Moorer, Evander Holyfield, Tommy Morrison, and Shannon Briggs among others. Such a career is notable even without the pre-qual of a great run that existed long before. Many great contenders and even aphabet champions couldn't acheive what he did in his comeback even during their peak years, let alone over the course of two careers combined.

Foreman's comeback was sensational and a huge cornerstone in boxing history....

 

What does knowing him personally have anything to do with it? If a ****** is caught in his shameful deed on film, would you defend him by saying none of us knows him personally?

 

Would you consider James " Quick " Tillis, to be a great fighter if I told you I knew him personally?

 

No, but i'd move him up a few spots, cracking the top25. Move over, Witherspoon.

 

Quite agree ,well said!

 

Wonder what Riddick would make of the expression" Murderers Row"?

 

I think he was overselling one of them, in round 6 against Golota in the first fight.

Not the others as they were just vicious low blows thrown at an uppercutting motion.

Yeah. Bowe was actually having a very good 7th round up to that point, after Holyfield won rounds 5 and 6 big.