How Good was Bowe?

[JUYJUY]

Some unbelievable stats about Bowe is that he was in the same school class as Mike Tyson, and he lost to Chris Eubank in the first round of the New York Spanish Golden Gloves in 1984 at MIDDLEWEIGHT!

[riz]

Actions speak louder than words. He climed out of the ring after the 1st Holyfield fight and confronted Lewis on camera (who was doing commentary). He said he "owed" Lewis one for losing to him in the olympics, and promied to fight him next. Lewis got close to him and told him he was going to knock him out 'again'. Bowe looked very uncomfortable the whole time.

Not only did he not go though with his own promise, he later threw his belt away rather than fight Lewis.

I think for whatever reason, his loss to Lewis in the Olympics planted a seed that he shouldn't fight him.

I don't know if afraid is the right word, but he clearly never had any interest in fighting Lewis.

Aside from that, I think he was a decent prospect, but the Holyfield fights took something out of him. He got hit too often and I don't think he was the same fighter after those three fights (even though he won 2 of 3).

He was another guy that was never 'all there' in the brains department.

1. no ones all there in the brains deparment lol its boxing
2. tru bowe gave up the title instead of fighting lennox (not 100% sure but i'll take ur word for it), but think of it like this. lewis gave up the IBF instead of fighting byrd. and alos the WBA isntead of fighting RUIZ. comon RUIZ!!!!! thts sad

[RoyFlapsHisLips]

Actions speak louder than words. He climed out of the ring after the 1st Holyfield fight and confronted Lewis on camera (who was doing commentary). He said he "owed" Lewis one for losing to him in the olympics, and promied to fight him next. Lewis got close to him and told him he was going to knock him out 'again'. Bowe looked very uncomfortable the whole time.

Not only did he not go though with his own promise, he later threw his belt away rather than fight Lewis.

I think for whatever reason, his loss to Lewis in the Olympics planted a seed that he shouldn't fight him.

I don't know if afraid is the right word, but he clearly never had any interest in fighting Lewis.

Aside from that, I think he was a decent prospect, but the Holyfield fights took something out of him. He got hit too often and I don't think he was the same fighter after those three fights (even though he won 2 of 3).

He was another guy that was never 'all there' in the brains department.

You're right. Actions speak louder than words. Such is the case of Lennox Lewis deciding to retrieve his fighst 'title' from a trashcan instead of earning it by beating the real heavyweight champion.

Bowe had said on countless occasions that if Lennox had dropped his trashcan belt he could fight for the real title. But he didn't. Why? Actions speak louder than words.

I'm of the opinion there was fault on both sides for the fight never happening. Somewhat similar to the RJJ-DM situation.

[IRONTIGER]

Rid**** Big Daddy Bowe - could be - all time Heavyweight great until he meet Polish Andrew Golota

1996-12-14 - Convention Center Atlantic City USA DQ 9

1996-07-11 - Madison Square Garden New York USA DQ 7

[Ivan Drago]

Prime Bowe, on his best night, I would favour him over any heavweight in history. He was huge but mobile, had a great jab, could take a punch, great stamina, carried his power into the later rounds, and was and still is the only big man to have a great inside game.

Too bad he was a binge eating, lazy ******* with absolutely 0 work ethic. He could have dominated the 90s as the Undisputed Champion if he wanted to.

[JUYJUY]

Prime Bowe, on his best night, I would favour him over any heavweight in history.

Totally disagree. He didn't beat anybody in his prime, Holyfield was grossly over-rated who didn't beat anybody either (aside from the forementioned Bowe and a totally 'shot-it' Tyson - nothing to write home about man, sorry).

[Ivan Drago]

Totally disagree. He didn't beat anybody in his prime, Holyfield was grossly over-rated who didn't beat anybody either (aside from the forementioned Bowe and a totally 'shot-it' Tyson - nothing to write home about man, sorry).

I didnt say he DID beat anybody in their prime, but he did anyways. The first Bowe Holyfield fight was when they were both in their prime, and Bowe dominated him. And Holyfield beat plently of guys, what the hell are you talking about? Dwight Qawi, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Rid**** Bowe, Mike Tyson, Ray Mercer, Pinklon Thomas, Michael Dokes, Alex Stewart, Bobby Czyz, Michael Moorer, Hasim Rahman, and John Ruiz! Thats a hell of a resume, considering he went toe to toe with these guys when he was usually outsized. He also gave Lewis two close, tough fights when he was past his prime. A 91 Holyfield would have killed Lewis. Are you drunk or something? "Holyfield never beat anybody"

[JUYJUY]

I didnt say he DID beat anybody in their prime, but he did anyways. The first Bowe Holyfield fight was when they were both in their prime, and Bowe dominated him. And Holyfield beat plently of guys, what the hell are you talking about? Dwight Qawi, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Ray Mercer, Pinklon Thomas, Michael Dokes, Alex Stewart, Bobby Czyz, Michael Moorer, Hasim Rahman, and John Ruiz! Thats a hell of a resume, considering he went toe to toe with these guys when he was usually outsized. He also gave Lewis two close, tough fights when he was past his prime. A 91 Holyfield would have killed Lewis. Are you drunk or something? "Holyfield never beat anybody"

Yes he beat 'names' such as Foreman, Holmes and Tyson but let's be honest they were totally 'shot-it' by then! Qawi was while he was still a Cruiserweight, before he got juiced up on roids.

Lennox Lewis is another grossly over-rated figher, who clearly beat Holyfield in their first fight.

[Ivan Drago]

Name one heavyweight in the last 20 years with a better resume than Holyfield.

[JUYJUY]

Name one heavyweight in the last 20 years with a better resume than Holyfield.

Tyson by far. The guy beat the current WBC champion, the current WBA champion, the current IBF champion, the former WBC champion, the former WBA champion, the former IBF champion, and then he knocked out the Lineal Champion in one round. All of this at just 20-21 years old while boxing out of the Catskills. He reigned as lb4lb #1 for years as a Heavyweight ahead of Hagler/Hearns/Leonard et al. The guy was genuinely seen as invincible, awesome skills and sick handspeed with COMBINATIONS(that he didn't have post-Catskills) and HEAD MOVEMENT(that he didn't have post-Catskills) and super body punching(that he didn't use have post-Catskills) and even a lot of quality, powerful jabs landing(that he didn't use post-Catskills). Even when he fought Holyfield, after almost four years in prison and a shadow of his former self, he was the huge, huge favourite despite being totally 'shot-it' and it ended up being Ring Magazine Upset of the Year.