Amongst big guys (6'3" +) who was the best in fighter?

[mehoe]

Ike Ibaebuch
Bowe
Holyfield's only 6'1" so I don't think he counts

[Sugarj]

Like it or not the best 'tall' heavyweight at infighting was Riddick Bowe.....

[Scott9945]

Like it or not the best 'tall' heavyweight at infighting was Riddick Bowe.....

I don't like it, but I can't think of a better choice either.

[New England]

Like it or not the best 'tall' heavyweight at infighting was Riddick Bowe.....

proof that it's not absolutely neccessary if you're a HW

the best HW infighters/guys who get close are generally there out of necessity
marciano, tyson [though not an inside fighter. tyson liked to be inside of an opponents offense but far away enough to keep his hands free and land his hardest shots at an angle,] frazier,

most HW fights are fought primarily on the outside. almost all of them, in fact.

these guys have hard jabs and usually have their best power on the end of their right hands. the jabs can carry/win the fight and the right hands can end it, so they're on the outside.

[them_apples]

Ike Ibaebuch
Bowe
Holyfield's only 6'1" so I don't think he counts

holyfield was just over 6'2.

Wasn't Ike 6'2? but he just a tank?

[fight_professor]

Why does Bowe get so little love? RB was a hell of a fighter.

[Sugarj]

Why does Bowe get so little love? RB was a hell of a fighter.

It probably is because true boxing fans saw that he genuinely could have been one of the very best heavyweights ever. He had the talent, the size, the tools but lacked 'consistent dedication'.

I think his dedication issues started around the time of the Holyfield rematch. He came in heavy compared to their first match and duly lost his titles. But, that said, it was still an extremely close fight (his only loss!). If he was in just a little better shape he would have surely won that one. Two wins over a near as dammit prime Holyfield would I'm sure have elevated him to that of a genuine top ten heavyweight all time great.

Dumping the WBC belt rather than face Lennox Lewis hurt fan's views on him too (despite Bowe not being apparently in line for the lions share of the purse, which he felt he deserved as champion). As Lewis had stopped Bowe in the 1988 Olympic final, many saw Bowe's actions as cowardly and lacking the heart to gain revenge, no matter what purse he was getting.

When he prepared well for fights, he was genuinely awesome. I think the last truely great Bowe performance was against Gonzales in 1995. He looked a bit sluggish in inflicting Holyfield's first stoppage loss later that year.

His prime was very much cut short though. He clearly came in far too heavy and underprepared for Andrew Golota first time round and took too much punishment. That was followed by overpreparing and coming in far too light for the return.....when he again suffered terrible punishment. Whilst both fights were won by Bowe by DQ, his body and head received a dreadful pummelling. What was worrying was Bowe's slurred speach in the interview after the second fight.

He was only 28 or 29 at the time, a point at which most heavyweights are approaching their prime these days.

It would have been great to see the best version of Bowe in mega fights with mid 90s Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis or George Foreman. Sadly it was not meant to be. With better dedication, diet outside of fight camps and respect for opponents, there was no reason why he wouldn't have mixed in world class at least as long as Lennox Lewis.

Big shame.

[pablo1]

Riddick Bowe had the best in-fighting amongst the big HW's.

Primo Carnera wasn't great, but got a good close distance fighting, with those powerful uppercuts, and his huge strength.

Willard and Lewis had a monster uppercut in close. Willard actually killed one man with that punch early in his career.

Muhammad Ali got some infighting, he did really good in Manila against Frazier.

[them_apples]

It probably is because true boxing fans saw that he genuinely could have been one of the very best heavyweights ever. He had the talent, the size, the tools but lacked 'consistent dedication'.

I think his dedication issues started around the time of the Holyfield rematch. He came in heavy compared to their first match and duly lost his titles. But, that said, it was still an extremely close fight (his only loss!). If he was in just a little better shape he would have surely won that one. Two wins over a near as dammit prime Holyfield would I'm sure have elevated him to that of a genuine top ten heavyweight all time great.

Dumping the WBC belt rather than face Lennox Lewis hurt fan's views on him too (despite Bowe not being apparently in line for the lions share of the purse, which he felt he deserved as champion). As Lewis had stopped Bowe in the 1988 Olympic final, many saw Bowe's actions as cowardly and lacking the heart to gain revenge, no matter what purse he was getting.

When he prepared well for fights, he was genuinely awesome. I think the last truely great Bowe performance was against Gonzales in 1995. He looked a bit sluggish in inflicting Holyfield's first stoppage loss later that year.

His prime was very much cut short though. He clearly came in far too heavy and underprepared for Andrew Golota first time round and took too much punishment. That was followed by overpreparing and coming in far too light for the return.....when he again suffered terrible punishment. Whilst both fights were won by Bowe by DQ, his body and head received a dreadful pummelling. What was worrying was Bowe's slurred speach in the interview after the second fight.

He was only 28 or 29 at the time, a point at which most heavyweights are approaching their prime these days.

It would have been great to see the best version of Bowe in mega fights with mid 90s Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis or George Foreman. Sadly it was not meant to be. With better dedication, diet outside of fight camps and respect for opponents, there was no reason why he wouldn't have mixed in world class at least as long as Lennox Lewis.

Big shame.

Bowe was good at everything and he was big and strong to boot. Thats why he was so good. Lewis was big but not necessarily the strongest dude nor did he have the best chin, he had flaws. Bowe was damn good at everything and had heart too. Bowe is a hard guy to beat.

[Sugarj]

Riddick Bowe had the best in-fighting amongst the big HW's.

Primo Carnera wasn't great, but got a good close distance fighting, with those powerful uppercuts, and his huge strength.

Willard and Lewis had a monster uppercut in close. Willard actually killed one man with that punch early in his career.

Muhammad Ali got some infighting, he did really good in Manila against Frazier.

True, Ali's infighting in Manilla was good.