Could he have been a top 10 ATG? Skill ,size, chin, heart . But discipline problems went a way to wrecking his career. But with a different mindset do you think he's up there with the very best?
Eddie Futch sure thought so. There's a bit to process tho. There's a school of thought that he was kept away from punchers. Is it true? The waters a bit murky. I mean if he kept his Holyfield form for longer he'd drop a number of spots. He and Tyson were never going to fight each other so a lot depends on how he goes with The Lion. I'm thinking more 10-15.
I definitely think he could have been, but his discipline let him down, his manager was strange although got him 2 easy defence so both good pay days, but think he was part to blame about throwing the WBC belt away. Also a few mental problems he had with family and friends. He also had the loss to Lewis eating at him and I think Lewis would have beaten him again. But without this he would / should have been a top ten, he is still in the top 20-30 as he is which is still a great achievement in itself.
Maybe. He was almost flawless offensively and even with his defensive lapses he could have been much better than he was in reality. But at the end of the day - humans aren't perfect and he just wasn't that guy. Fights are not only won in the ring, they are won also outside of the ring.
His peak was higher than guys like Foreman, Holyfield, Liston, Tyson and Usyk who we ( depending on the person) say are top HW’s? He beat an in prime ATG in the fight of his life, for historic value it’s up there with the FOTC and the Schmeling master plan win over Louis… Foreman, Holyfield, Liston, Usyk and Tyson didn’t have that sort of untainted H2H GREAT win. Is he overall better than those guys? I think he’d lose to quite a few guys in and out of the top ten but his heights are undeniable and for a short period before he went off the rails and ghosted Eddie Futch Bowe was a special HW in a H2H way. Easily could’ve been top ten, all the pieces where there… Tyson, Lewis and a mixed bag of contenders were all viable. Did you know Toney called out Riddick Bowe at one time?
Bowe definitely could have been a great fighter, if only he'd had more discipline and motivation.Great inside fighting skills, like those of a much lighter man. Had a good piston like jab that could control fights. Great uppercut and body shots. The early version of Lennox would have his hands for for sure.
No. He was overrated in his own time. Shoddy defense, mentally unstable, poor work ethic, a penchant for brawling when boxing would do better.
