How would Bowe do against the great HW?

[fight_professor]

So how would Bowe fare against the following, prime v prime of course:

Ali

Louis

Holmes

Tyson

Lewis

Marciano

Dempsey

Frazier

Liston

Foreman

Start with this lot.

[boxingbuff]

So how would Bowe fare against the following, prime v prime of course:

Ali

Louis

Holmes

Tyson

Lewis

Marciano

Dempsey

Frazier

Liston

Foreman

Start with this lot.

Bowe would lose a decision to Ali,Holmes

Bowe would get KO'd by Forman,Liston,Tyson,Frazier,Dempsey,Marciano,Louis

Bowe would beat Lewis by decision

These are 15 round fights

[Jim Jeffries]

Bowe would lose a decision to Ali,Holmes

Bowe would get KO'd by Forman,Liston,Tyson,Frazier,Dempsey,Marciano,Louis

Bowe would beat Lewis by decision

These are 15 round fights

If Bowe would beat Lewis, then why did he go to such great lengths to avoid him?

[Sugarj]

Good thread, I'll assume we are talking about the peak 1991/92 Bowe:

I favour Ali by decision in one of his toughest ever fights, no shutout at all.

I think Bowe could possibly get a late rounds stoppage over Louis. I'd expect a great fight but hell Bowe was so big, powerful and mobile, I couldn't bet against him here. (I'll get flack for this one!!)

I think that Holmes would do the same to Bowe as Ali, but not quite as conclusively, probably a close decision.

I favour Bowe by a whisker over Lewis, I honestly think that they were close skillwise but I think Bowe would find Lewis's chin at some point and lets face it both of Lennox's losses were ONE PUNCH KOs. Bowe had great one punch hitting power and enough skills to find the chin of Lewis.

I think Bowe would destroy the much smaller Marciano, the gap in size and reach would make for comedic viewing. For all Marciano's heart and chin he is either losing a brave decision or getting stopped on cuts or facial injuries.

The same would happen to Dempsey as Marciano IMHO, that said Dempsey was faster than the rock, less likely to suffer facial injuries and may stand a slightly better chance. Bowe was much better than Jess Willard or Angel Firpo! Please, I dont want anyone to mention these names in citing that Dempsey would have a good chance.

Bowe would have nearly as much chance of knocking out Frazier early as Foreman did, Bowe's uppercuts were terrific, the key punch against Frazier along with his excellent jab. Bowe again is too big, fast and heavy.

A fight with Liston is tough to call, Liston's fights with Williams have impressed me and I think we'd see a closely contested fight and a decision that could go either way. Both their chins were great.

I find it too hard to find a winner between Bowe and Foreman. If the Foreman that fought Young fought the Bowe that fought Holyfield I think Bowe would take a decision. As for the undefeated 1973 Foreman, I dont know! Bowe could hold a shot well so I think we'd be looking at a distance fight.........a very exciting one, possibly with either being knocked down enroute. I'd give Foreman the early rounds, the result would rely on how big a lead Foreman had built up.

I'm expecting flack for a few of these but they are my heartfelt opinions after watching extensive footage of all.

[fight_professor]

I agree with most of these calls.

Bowe smokes Marciano and Dempsey. I got him over Frazier too. Only Ali and Holmes for me and certs against prime Bowe (prime v prime discussion).

Would favour Tyson and perhaps Foreman, but the rest is evens or favouring Bowe.

[D-MiZe]

Bowe was scared of Lewis.

[fight_professor]

I see Bowe KOing Lennox. They didnt fight as there was no money in it then for Bowe. Prime Bowe is for me a top 7/8 HW (who beats who list).

[mickey malone]

I think that you tend to overrate Bowe.. His heart was never really in the sport.. He was exposed in the olympics & then again in the pros by a heartless cheat (Golota) none of the other great fighters struggled with Golota, they just blasted him outta there.. Bowe was virtually retired by him..

Ali by UD
Louis by late stoppage
Holmes by UD
Lewis by brutal KO
Frazier by SD
Foreman by KO

He'd be too big for Dempsey & Marciano though.. Both UD's in Bowes favor..
I think the best one to watch would be Vs Liston.. They're so damn similar.. Probably a draw...

[bojangles1987]

So how would Bowe fare against the following, prime v prime of course:

Ali

Louis

Holmes

Tyson

Lewis

Marciano

Dempsey

Frazier

Liston

Foreman

Start with this lot.

I'll use the Bowe who fought the first Holyfield fight, as that was his best:

Ali busts him up for an easy decision.

Louis gets knocked out late in the fight or loses a decision.

Holmes wins a tight decision.

Frazier knocks him out. So does Foreman.

Liston loses by decision.

Tyson, as with most fights, either knocks Bowe out early or gets KOed late.

Lewis wins a comfortable decision.

Marciano and Dempsey each got knocked out.

[fight_professor]

I think that you tend to overrate Bowe..

The Bowe I see in tapes is a superb fighter. Esp the Holy 1 tape. That fluency on a big guy, great inside work, power and decent speed. A top jab.

Those tools break down most HW.

At his peak, I see very few people beating him.