The "Conditioned", "Focused" Riddick Bowe of November 13, 1992 vs The Larry Holmes of 1980. WHO triumphs?

Question

"Papa Smurf", Eddie Futch trains a very determined well conditioned 235lb 1992 Riddick Bowe to challenge Larry Holmes in 1980 for the Heavyweight Championship.

Futch, who trained BOTH these guys has said that Bowe is the most talented fighter he ever trained. And Bowe is excellently trained and gunning for Holmes. BUT Does the fantastic "Easton Assassin" have too many tricks up his talented sleeve for Big Daddy?

Who do YOU think wins this?

Answer 1

Bowe focused and conditioned over any fighter of the 80's or 90's.  it would be a great fight but i think bowe's size and power advatage would wear larry down as the fight went on. he would push the fight early trying to grab 3 of the first 4 rounds, try to take the 5,7,10 rounds by just jabbing and keeping larry at bay and going to the body when close. larry would jab and throw combinations to still some rounds adn frustrate riddick, but lets be honest a focused conditioned riddick is like a focused determined zab judah, all-most unbeatable

Answer 2

Sometimes your fantasy fights just kill me.

Every trainer wanted Bowe after the Olympics, but I think Newman carried him longer than Duva and Futch.  Bowe was so strong and look who he beat at the top, Coetzer, Biggs, Golota, and Holyfield.

With just one career loss and one no contest, I feel it would have came down to who was working in Bowes corner because that sixty seconds worth of advice in-between rounds can save a fighters life.

But come on Honey, did you say HOLMES.  God, look at how long he held the title.  I'm not sure that Bowe could have done as well with guys like Norton, Shavers, Witherspoon, Cooney, Bonecrusher or even Ali, FOCUSED or not!

Bowe was definitely a warrior, but I feel that Holmes was a much smarter fighter and his strategy would have outclassed Bowe at any given time had they both met in the ring.  I'd say at least a Majority decision for Holmes because I don't think he would've knocked out Bowe, even if it were a twenty round fight.

Answer 3

Holmes would smash Bowe like he did Gerry Cooney. Holmes is one of the greatest heavies of all time. Most underated fighter ever.

Answer 4

My Lady, hands down a in shape Bowe beats a in his prime Holmes. Larry had decent power in his right hand but not overwhelming. Larry's biggest weapon was his jab. Bowe had a very good jab and better power. Early in Bowes career he would stuff his jab in your face all night long follow up with a quick right hand over the top. Larry never had a stern test as the Champ or even coming up for that matter (after the Ali era) Riddick fought very tough and in their prime fighters Holyfield, Mercer and Gonzales to mention a few. His overall ring generalship and effective aggressiveness alone would win him a unanimous decision

Answer 5

Bowe's biggest problem was that he was Lazy and usually unfocused. Bowe is bigger then Larry but that just means there is more for Larry to hit.

I watched Bowe allot when he was fighting and I did like him but put him in against Holmes and Bowe would look like a big heavybag.

Larry would stick the jab in Bowe's face all night. Going to Bowes soft belly and circling away from Bowes right hand.

Larry would counter Bowe all night and when he did get caught with a hook from Bowe he would shrug them off and fire back.

Holmes was faster, slicker, more determined in better shape and leagues more clever then Riddick Bowe.

When Bowe fought Holyfield in all 3 fights when Holyfield boxed, moved and countered Bowe he dominated Bowe. Bowe was able to get the first win against Holyfield because Evander just could not stay away from a slug fest and lost when he did.

Holmes would not be tricked into a slug fest, he would stick to his game plan and move and counter Bowe all night eventually stopping a tired Bowe in the late rounds.

Riddick would have a few opportunities though when Holmes would hold back and get too relaxed like he frequently did, and during these lulls in Holmes Bowe may be able to capitalize, but all in all Holmes would dissect Bowe and break him down.

Answer 6

the Riddick Bowe of November 13, 1992 (which was the only night he was great) could have beaten just about anyone.. Larry Holmes was a much better champion and boxer, but if you wanna pluck Bowe from that night he beat Evander against Holmes of 1980,  i pick Bowe by decision. Bowe was in shape, hungry (no, not for food) and willing to go through anything to win the title that night. that's the Riddick Bowe Eddie Futch was talking about, he showed how great he COULD have been had he stayed dedicated. Bowe was special that night, match up Holmes against Riddick on any other night and he picks Bowe apart easy..

Answer 7

holmes of 1980 would of put a beating on bowe holmes would be two fast for bowe holmes wins by points possibly late rd tko

Answer 8

A Focused, trained Riddick Bowe.  An honest politician would be more likely but let's just pretend that Riddick can give the fans a good performance and show up in shape more than the "ONCE" he gave during his career, his 92 performance vs Holyfield.

Give me the Larry Holmes who showed up vs ALI in 1980.  I have said a million times, and I maintain, that Larry was at his absolute best.  ALI brought out the best in everyone he fought.  

Holmes was the perfect size for a heavyweight.  At 6'3'', 212lbs. he, along with ALI, was big enough to handle the Mammoths and fast enough to handle the "stealth" fighters (not many in the hvt. division) and strong and tough enough to handle the TANKS (Tyson and Co.).

Larry had something else that even ALI did not have.  I have also always maintained that, though I believe ALI would win vs Holmes,  Larry can beat everyone ALI can beat, but easier,  Louis being the one possible exception due to styles.  ALI's Trememdous heart and refusal to lose during his prime is what enabled him to survive against the tough guys.  While ALI could always "BOX",  Holmes can as well but he can also "FIGHT" when he needed to.  

Riddick Bowe had all the tools to beat nearly anyone.  What he didn't have is the heart and discipline.  Riddick could never  over-come adversity like Larry has done many times.  I don't see Bowe fighting on with an injury (like ALI did with a broken jaw in round 2 vs Norton).  I can't see Riddick adjusting after taking a Megaton Bomb like Larry took vs Ernie Shavers, to come back and stop Ernie later.  Riddick has all the tools Larry has but no GUTS.  

At his best, Bowe could spell trouble for Larry early.  Remember how Carl Williams gave Larry fits with his jab?  Larry showed he can change the tempo of the fight.  He dug deep and figured out  "How do I beat my younger self?"  Minus the china-chin, Williams is the closest thing to a young Holmes that boxing has seen, probably ever.  

The fact that Bowe is bigger and stronger means little.  Larry has beaten many such opponents.  What Bowe has that most did not have is the jab.  It's not like Larry's but close.  He would win the majority of the first few rounds against Larry, who would spend those losing rounds learning and solving.  

There is no money in the bank for Riddick because, even at his best, he still would not match Larry's late round stamina and ability to "FIGHT".  "Smallish" Evander Holyfield PUSHED Bowe to the limit.  He weighed 208.  He LOOKS like the perfect Hvt. but he's no match in strength for Bowe.  Bowe has the edge in strength here but not enough to make a big difference against Holmes.  Larry would have to FIGHT but he has proven many times that he can do just that.  

One thing I CAN see is Bowe making the mistake of believing  his size guarentees him the edge in strength.  It does but not enough to make a big difference.  He scores in the early going but never seriously hurts Larry, just enough to keep Larry from doing what he does best.  Then, mid-way through round 6,  BOOM!  

Only Andrew Golota ever hit Bowe as hard as the perfect right Larry lands to the side of the head.  Bowe drops his hands in the middle rounds and that is when Larry will land.  Larry doesn't have Golota's power but he's FAR more accurate.  Bowe wobbles and Larry lands a few more rights and backs him to the ropes.  The bell saves Bowe.  

Having come so close to being KO'd, Bowe fights cautiously as Holmes takes the middle rounds.  Holmes becomes a bit more aggressive in the later rounds, hurting Bowe again in the 10th.  Bowe mounts a rally in round 11 but that's the end of his reign.  He is visibly tired and Holmes has stepped up the pace.  Bowe moves slowly to his corner after round 12.  Clearly, he's not used to this torrid pace.

In round 13 a combination (jab-jab-RIGHT) snaps Bowe's head back.  He raises his guard but Larry is now landing at will.  Bowe is trapped in a corner, unable to defend himself.  Holmes lets loose with a barrage of punches when the referee steps in.  

No matter the circumstances,  Riddick Bowe is JUST NOT a 15 round fighter.  It's not just a matter of the number of rounds.  It's more a matter of PREPARING for the distance BEFORE the fight begins.  It's also a matter of being able to pace yourself for the assignment.  Larry can do it.  Riddick can't.

Holmes by TKO in 13

Answer 9

holmes would stop bowe in 12 rounds, as he's more focused and determined and is more quicker to the punch than big daddy.

Answer 10

One of the best tactics Riddick Bowe had was turning over his big right into a palm strike into the back of Evander Holyfield's head.   In their first fight, be basically rabbit-punched EH every time EH went to duck.  Basically, Bowe used his size advantage to gain tactical advantage.  That wouldn't happen against Larry Holmes, who was a big cat in his own right.  A regular on this board (forgive me for forgetting his name) has previously mentioned that Larry Holmes had enough size to deal with the mammoth fighters, and enough speed to deal with the active fighters.  Bowe would have to fight Holmes not from a physical standpoint, but from a tactical standpoint.  Big Lar would use his superior footwork to negate Bowe's strength advantage and do what he did to just about everybody:  take the opponent into the deep end and drown him.  Once clear of the early rounds, both fighters will tire a bit and that's where Holmes goes to work to land big right hands.  Holmes decisions Bowe in a 12 rounder, TKO's Bowe in a 15 rounder.

It would be a lot like how he dismantled Cooney, looping overhands around the guard, then infighting throughout the middle rounds to tire Bowe out.