Rid**** Bowe - How good was he

[bojangles1987]

He turned into one of the more overrated heavyweights imo.

Most people forget that he had some of the worst defense you'd see at his level. You can't be one of the greats being that one dimensional against others who had both the offensive and defensive skillset as well.

He was so open to right hands it was insulting. That's why a former Cruiserweight was able to go toe to toe with him for 3 fights. Think of Lennox Lewis going at him and his right hands connecting instead of Holyfield's. And although he was past his best against Andrew Golota, something tells me it wouldn't have been that much diffirent if he wasn't, because Bowe was getting tagged even by some of the worst journeymen.

So yes, a fantastic offensive fighter who would find his downfall more often than not because of his lack of defense. And I didn't even go into his mental game. This is just the truth imo, I'm a big fan of him and I even made a highlight of him as well.

Well, that former cruiserweight went toe to toe with guys like Tyson and Foreman and plenty other big fighters and beat them, so you can't fault Bowe for going toe to toe with that same cruiser and winning 2 out of 3 fights.

[ßringer]

As far as skills are concerned, Rid**** Bowe was one of the more slicker, technically sound Heavyweights of his era.

If he had only been able to control all of his other problems, he may have been able to become much more than the footnote he's become.

[ßringer]

That said, you can't make excuses for the guy.

He did it to himself.

[BKM-]

Well, that former cruiserweight went toe to toe with guys like Tyson and Foreman and plenty other big fighters and beat them, so you can't fault Bowe for going toe to toe with that same cruiser and winning 2 out of 3 fights.

Evander never went toe to toe with Foreman and he was actually bigger than Tyson at the time. Bowe had a lot of size on Holyfield who was barely over 200 lbs and because he was so bad defensively, he was hurt many times himself. If he was so technically supreme as people always like to say he would have dealt with Holyfield without getting hit as often as he did. His prime was left in the ring because of that man alone.

[sonnyboyx2]

Evander never went toe to toe with Foreman and he was actually bigger than Tyson at the time. Bowe had a lot of size on Holyfield who was barely over 200 lbs and because he was so bad defensively, he was hurt many times himself. If he was so technically supreme as people always like to say he would have dealt with Holyfield without getting hit as often as he did. His prime was left in the ring because of that man alone.

Old`Holyfield vs Lewis 1 & 2 come to mind.

[#1Assassin]

great heavyweight, could have competed in any era. too bad his prime was cut short because of the holyfield wars and his lack of focus outside the ring.

[bojangles1987]

Evander never went toe to toe with Foreman and he was actually bigger than Tyson at the time. Bowe had a lot of size on Holyfield who was barely over 200 lbs and because he was so bad defensively, he was hurt many times himself. If he was so technically supreme as people always like to say he would have dealt with Holyfield without getting hit as often as he did. His prime was left in the ring because of that man alone.

I think you are really underrating the guy in your avatar. Size had nothing to do with it, Holyfield could make anyone fight. There probably isn't a single heavyweight ever that could have easily dealt with the Holyfield Bowe fought.

[Joeyzagz]

Premature stoppage or not, Bowe was scared to death of facing Lennox after the olympics and shamefully ducked him by trashing the title.

[Tyson.]

Premature stoppage or not, Bowe was scared to death of facing Lennox after the olympics and shamefully ducked him by trashing the title.

He wasnt sacred of Lennox.

He just wanted a 75/25 split. This was the deal Holyfiled had given him so its understandable why Bowe offered this to Lewis.

[Barn]

Don't quote me on this but in Holyfields autobiography I'm sure he said Bowe was influenced by promoters to dump his title and everyone looked at it like he was scared to face Lewis when in fact he wasn't.
Holyfield may just be playing nice because they had a great series of fights and had respect for him because of that.