Riddick Bowe's Power - Top 20 All Time?

Well Evander Holyfield did admit in his most recent book that Bowe was the hardest man to ever hit him, and that says a lot considering all of the hard punchers Holyfield has been in the ring with.

 

It was 33 KO's in 42 victories, therefore only 9 of his victoms survived the distance, as opposed to the 12 you originally implied. Additionally, some of those decisions have to be taken into consideration. Two of those matches were the results of disqualifications. Another came against Billy Zumbrun when Bowe was like 38 years of age, and returning after some 9 years of inactivity? Another came against Evander Holyfield, who we all know was exceptionally durable in his prime. Larry Donald was also a very difficult fighter to record a Ko against.

 

But no-one is saying he doesn't hit hard.

The question is would you have him in this top 20?

Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers

1. Joe Louis
2. Sam Langford
3. Jimmy Wilde
4. Archie Moore
5. Sandy Saddler
6. Stanley Ketchell
7. Jack Dempsey
8. Bob Fitzsimmons
9.

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10. Earnie Shavers
11. Sugar Ray Robinson
12. Ruben Olivares
13. Wilfredo Gomez
14.

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15. Sonny Liston
16.

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17. Bob Foster
18.

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19. Khaosai Galaxy
20. Alexis Arguello
21. Carlos Zarate
22. Max Baer
23. Rocky Graziano
24. Matthew Saad Muhammad
25. Julian Jackson
26. Danny Lopez
27. Gerald McClellan
28.

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29. Rodrigo Valdez
30.

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31. Pipino Cuevas
32. Jim Jefferies
33.

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34. Bennie Briscoe
35.

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36. Edwin Rosario
37. Tommy Ryan
38. John Mugabi
39.

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40. Carlos Monzon
41. Tony Zale
42. Michael Spinks
43. Joe Gans
44. Elmer Ray
45. George Godfrey
46.

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47. Alfonso Zamora
48.

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49. Cleveland Williams
50. Julio Cesar Chavez
51. Tiger Jack Fox
52. Joe Walcott
53. Gerry Cooney
54. Al (Bummy) Davis
55. Max Schmeling
56. Florentino Fernandez
57. Henry Armstrong
58. Bob Satterfield
59. Al Hostak
60. Jesus Pimentel
61. Eugene (Cyclone) Hart
62. Lew Jenkins
63. Harry Wills
64. Tom Sharkey
65. Terry McGovern
66. Jersey Joe Walcott
67.

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68. Leotis Martin
69. Buddy Baer
70. Donovan (Razor) Ruddock
71. Jose Luis Ramirez
72. Tommy Gomez
73. Jose Napoles
74. Kid McCoy
75. Antonio Esparragoza
76. Ricardo Moreno
77.

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78. Ike Williams
79. Luis Firpo
80.

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81. Humberto Gonzalez
82. Bobby Chacon
83. Jock McAvoy
84. Eduardo Lausse
85. Eder Jofre
86. Charley Burley
87. Mike McCallum
88. Salvador Sanchez
89.

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90. Rodolfo Gonzalez
91. Nigel Benn
92. (Irish) Bob Murphy
93. Paul Berlenbach
94. Battling Torres
95. Chalky Wright
96. George (K.O.) Chaney
97. Andy Ganigan
98. Fred Fulton
99. Ingemar Johansson
100. Charley White

 

:huh Who is this?

 

You...

 

And yet for all this bluster and bombast and correcting - is he one of the 20 hardest hitters of all-time? No. He isn't.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_White

 

to be fair mate, it was top 20 HW'S .

 

I know, there are more than 20 heavyweights in that list, aren't there?

 

yeah , loads more.
i'm a bit surprised bowe isn't on though , in his heyday he was a heavy handed git.
that lists open to debate though. you know how i kiss nigel benns arse? well he should be higher ( you knew i was gonna say that ,didn't you )

 

I did know you were going to say that, and I fully agree. I would have him considerably higher. Benn was a murderous puncher at 160. Bowe was a heavy hitter, of that there is no doubt. However, it is my opinion that he wouldn't make it into the top 20 heavyweight punchers.

 

do you think benn hit harder than roy jones? i certainly do.

 

I don't know. Probably he did have more one-punch power, yes. But I could be wrong. RJJ was a brilliant puncher as well. Don't forget, RJJ regularly KO'd light-heavyweights, after beginning his career at 160. Proven power credentials.

 

was holyfield a huge puncher? maybe at CW but he seems high on that list. in fact i'd say bowe was a harder puncher than evander.

 

At heavy Bowe was definitely a harder puncher, but not pound-for-pound. Holyfield was a stunning puncher at cruiser, check his record out for the details.