Was Bowe's performance in Holyfield I the best hw display since Ali & Frazier's day?

I have a diffiicult time awarding any single fight as being the "best" performance, given that were so many in the last 30-40 years. I do however agree that it was an excellent display of wills from two incredibly great athletes who both felt that they could win the match. There wasn't an ounce of quit in either of those men.

 

I think tyson, lewis and holmes looked better in certain fights but against lesser opponents. I'd need to think about it further but it may well be the most impressive preformance post ali and fraizer

 

Anytime you have two greats with the willingness to stand and trade, it produces a great fight. Bowe and Holyfield had good mean streaks which produced an exciting fight, especially considering both were in their respective primes. Holyfield was the type of fighter that was going to make you fight with him. With exception to Lennox Lewis who held and ran all he could, Holyfield was able to engage most everyone.

 

Bowe vs Holyfield was a great FIGHT, but Bowe took a lot of punishment even in victory and seemed to wear him down more with his size, strength and power rather than being the better boxer.

 

Actually, it was Evander who I felt fought the wrong kind of fight. Had he boxed more as opposed to trying to win a physical battle with Riddick, he might have won the first match..

 

The Bowe v Hollyfield trilogy was amongst the best I've seen. All 3 fights were great in their own way, and the last 2 very close. The initial match-up was certainly a brilliant performance by Bowe. Personally I enjoyed the 3rd fight the most. Close, toe to toe, and then alamost unexpectedly Bowe got a sniff and stepped up to finish it.....3 x great fights!

....and no, they don't make 'em like that any more. Klit v Thompson was one of the biggest yawns I've witnessed.

 

The Bowe v Hollyfield trilogy was amongst the best I've seen.

All 3 fights were great in their own way, and the last 2 very close. The initial match-up was certainly a brilliant performance by Bowe.

Personally I enjoyed the 3rd fight the most. Close, toe to toe, and then almost unexpectedly Bowe got a sniff and stepped up to finish it.....3 x great fights!

....and no, they don't make 'em like that any more. Klit v Thompson was one of the biggest yawns I've witnessed.

 

Bowe in the first fight was the best he could be. The two preceding fights he had clearly declined and expanded too much for his own good.

 

Holyfield seen Bowe as a long range boxer with a limited inside game. I'm sure Holyfield thought if he got inside often, it was an easy fight. Bowe really shined inside and out-punched Holyfield. It wasn't just the body punches that did the damage, but also the physical strength and weight of Bowe.

 

I personally think Bowe started declining not long after the first fight with Holyfield,rather than Evander coming up with a superior strategy in the second fight.

 

I agree completely, but my point was that Bowe hardly pulled of a boxing master clinic. He wore down Holyfield and took advantage of the man's tendency to slug it out. As you say, if Evander boxed smart, he had a good chance of winning a decision and there would not have been that much Bowe could've done about it.... that's why i won't consider it "the best hw display since Ali/Frazier". It was one of the most entertaining fights since then, that's for sure.

 

Bowe's weight surprised a few people in the rematch. He was considerably heavier.

 

Nice pick, DINAMITA.

I recently purchased Riddick Bowe's career DVD set, and his first fight with Evander Holyfield I was not only a tremendous Heavyweight title fight, but undoubtedly Big Daddy's finest hour. No question. I think a lot of things he was able to do in that fight surprised Evander in particular.

Of course, Bowe's subpar defensive capabilities were still on show, and the fight was extremely competitive throughout, but Bowe was a clear winner. He was finding a home for his overhand right, and perhaps most surprisingly of all, he was able to stay with Evander all the way up until the final bell. Some ridiclulous exchanges in this fight, and Bowe was known to run out of gas, but he was in tremendous condition in '92. I don't think anything was going to stop him winning the title that night.

Riddick Bowe in great shape is a threat to anybody, and I think he could have been more than competitive with Lennox Lewis around that time.

 

Very true..

Sadly, the Bowe fight was a very winnable match for Holyfield. Hindsite tells us that Riddick didn't cover up very well against a good jab, and was more comfortable out muscling smaller opponents. Had Evander boxed he may very well have squeaked by on a close decision, then fought a pre-steward Lewis, in a match that he would have had a fair chance of taking as well...