Riddick Bowe v Wladimir Klitchko who wins?

Question

both in their prime, over 12 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world (I emphasise this so Bowe is properly motivated!)

Answer 1

If Riddick Bowe would have had Lennox Lewis's heart and drive he would have been the perfect fighter.  Bowe had all the tools, same as Lewis, without the questionable chin of Lewis and could have been a great fighter, but he lacked the discipline needed to maintain the necessary level of physical conditioning to stay an elite fighter.  Unfortunately for boxing once Bowe won a title he thought he was done and no matter how many times Eddie Futch tried to explain to Bowe that it was harder to keep a title than it is to win one, Bowe wouldn't listen.

I knock Wladimir all the time about "fighting scared" but that is unfair.  At least Wladimir fights, Bowe will always be saddled with the dishonor of having shamelessly ducked Lennox Lewis.  No amount of false bravado will remove the stain of cowardice on Bowe's heavyweight legacy.  A Champion is one who fights the best of his era, and in this he failed worse than in his training habits.  Dishonor is like a scar on a tree to the legacy of a boxer, it looks worse as time goes on.  It is unfortunate that a fighter the calibur and skill level of Riddick Bowe would be remembered more for what he didn't do, than for his accomplishments, but there it is.  He wouldn't train enought to maintain his status, and he was afraid of Lennox Louis, and that fear isn't what is held against him, a lot of guys feared Lennox, the fact that Bowe could never master his fear forever bars Bowe from any talk of greatness.  Talented yes, great, no.

That said, Wladimir has a chin as fragile as a bell, and you know what happens when a bell is rung.  Eventually Bowe would have tagged Wladimir, and if Purity, Brewster or Sanders could drop Wladimir, Bowe surely would have.  I think Vitali would have quite possibly beaten Riddick, but not Wladimir.

Bowe by KO inside of 6 rounds.

Answer 2

This would have been an interesting fight but it would depend on which riddick bowe showed up for this fight, if it was the well trained and determined bowe i think he could have a chance of winning but if it was the out of shape bowe that dodged lennox then i think he would loose.

Answer 3

I just watched Riddick Bowe the other night in an ESPN classic fight against Holyfield when both men were obviously at their best.  Bowe had an outstanding jab, but also was better than few realize on the inside.  He of course was about 6'5" with outstanding boxing skills.  When he was motivated and really came to fight properly trained, he was definetly an outstanding fighter.  Klitchko is the larger man but not by much also has a good jab and power.  The difference in this fight would be toughness and handspeed and Bowe has it all over Klitscko in those areas.  I believe it would be an even fight until the 9th round when Bowes jabs start to cut Klitscko's eyes.  The referee would stop the fight in the 11th round and wisely stop the fight on cuts with Bowe the winner by technical knockout.

Answer 4

I believe Bowe would win...

Answer 5

Blog beat me to it.    I think it should be noted that Riddick Bowe beat Evander Holyfield when EH was at the top of his game.  THAT Riddick Bowe would break Klitzschko down fairly quickly and knock him out in 3 rounds or less.  Both men are big, but Bowe had athletic ability to land that big right hand with authority and with the kind of speed that is rare in a big man.  Bad matchup for WK.

Answer 6

unfortunately, bowe never fulfilled his full potential, so we don't know how good he could've been.

the bowe from the first holyfield fight stops vlad in 6 rounds.

Answer 7

bowe would kill him usa baby

Answer 8

In their prime bowe would win by knockout due to wlads weak chin. but wlad could win by dec if he hit and held the entire fight and ran every round because he is faster that bowe. That would be a classic fight between to really good fighters