Is Riddick Bowe a Hall Of Famer?

[Neverchair]

He was a naturally gifted heavyweight with some good wins in the bag but is he worthy of the HOF?

Some people I know think he is one of the great heavies but I think of him a nearly man who could have been great but didn't try hard enough.

And... I just cant forgive him for ducking Lewis.

Whaddya reckon?

[Beeston Brawler]

It depends on your criteria.

Of current fighters that are close to the end of their careers, who would you induct/not induct?

[brown bomber]

Yes he was Linear heavyweight champion, thats enough to get in the HOF.

[Beeston Brawler]

If you induct say, Ricky Hatton, then Bowe is a shoe-in.

Their careers could be described as comparable IMO - though the first win over Holyfield easily trumps anything Hatton did of course.

[NO MAS]

I think the criteria to get into the Hall of Fame is not tight enough...:yep

What is the actual criteria...:think

[THE KNUCKLE]

No chance...butterbean has more chance than him:-(he started the slide in the heavyweight bums...exhausted after 2 rounds carry on

[Beeston Brawler]

If you think Wlado and Vitlay qualify, then Riddick certainly does :think

[Jack Dempsey]

I asked this question about Tyson, Hamed and Gatti on the Boxing Truth radio show this week and one of the guys there made the point that its the 'Hall of Fame' not necessarily the 'Hall of achievement' or words to that effect

[Chinny]

Hell yes

Holy I and II are as good as heavy boxing has been since the early 70s

Dominated a lot of unbeaten fighters (Gonzales, Hide, Larry David)

The heart he showed in the Golota brawls :shock:

[Mazallan]

Riddick will be an HOF no doubt.

[GazOC]

I asked this question about Tyson, Hamed and Gatti on the Boxing Truth radio show this week and one of the guys there made the point that its the 'Hall of Fame' not necessarily the 'Hall of achievement' or words to that effect


Thats what I've always said about how it seems to be run. I think all 3 fighters you've mentioned will get in eventually because of that.

[nip102]

if a fighter added something to the sport will being in it and if their absence from the sport is talked about they should get in

[JonOli]

Based on their criteria etc... I'd say he should be, yes.

[JonOli]

The riots, wasted talent and self destruction alone should get him in.

[Neverchair]

I asked this question about Tyson, Hamed and Gatti on the Boxing Truth radio show this week and one of the guys there made the point that its the 'Hall of Fame' not necessarily the 'Hall of achievement' or words to that effect

How relevent is that though?

In baseball the "world series" isn't an international tournament (and I know its to do with the paper) it's just a name.

The Football Hall of Fame apparently celebrates its "greatest" players.

Isn't this really about achievment?

Would Muhammad Ali appreciate being stood next to Butterbean?

[Geddy Lee]

I asked this question about Tyson, Hamed and Gatti on the Boxing Truth radio show this week and one of the guys there made the point that its the 'Hall of Fame' not necessarily the 'Hall of achievement' or words to that effect

very well said , that is so true.

i mean Bowe will get in HOF for winning the world titlle and making 2 defences against washed up boxers, ducking Lennox, lets face it bowe was shit scared of lewis and only beat one boxer of note,

but it gets you in the HOF see Barry Mcguigan

[Tony Bellew]

For me he is BUT that's cos I idolised him when growing up watching boxing!! Such a sad story Riddick turned out to be cos he could have achieved so much more than he did BUT still for me he's a HOF man!! The Holyfield Trilogy alone!!:good

[Lee Mc]

As I've said before, because the Hall of Fame insists on inducting new names every year it is enivitable that anyone who has won a significant alphabet title and made a significant amount of defences will be awarded a place.

On that criteria alone Riddick Bowe is almost guranteed a place but it is cemented by the fact that he was THE man at Heavyweight albeit for a very short period. (Two successful defences)

If, however, the Hall of Fame only commenerated those truely worth the accolade then Bowe falls way short of it. He had potential but it was never realised. Yes he only lost 1 fight, and a great one at that, but his record only contains 2 victories over any genuine Hall of Famers and that was the same man twice: Evander Holyfield. Apart from that his record has some very ordinary names on it.

So although it is safe to say that in 4 - 6 years time we will see Riddick Bowe in the open-top car parading down Canastota, it will not be justified in my opinion.

[Stickandmove]

Yes - if we choose to remember Bowe as the magnificent fighter who defeated a prime, undefeated Evander Holyfield to win the undisputed heavyweight title in 1992.

Bowe was a true heavyweight great, one of the best ever - for 1 fight.

[Flea Man]

I don't really like the HoF as a gauge.

Would I say Bowe was an ATG Heavyweight? Well, I would personally have him outside the top 20 based on resume/talent.

Bowe is quite a formidable H2H prospect though.

[icemax]

How can a man be inducted into the HoF when all his career he assiduously avoided facing the one true test of his ability?

[s23041983]

no, but his fights with holyfield are!

[Rich115]

Riddick is one of my favourite fighters. Very talented and was involved in some great fights. He had the talent to be one of the greatest HW's but unfortunatly not the desire and wasted that talent.

I think he deserves HoF though

[wrimc]

No could have been but isnt next

[Gaz S]

As pointed out, it's the "Hall of Fame" , not hall of ATGs, and in my opinion Bowe was involved in one of the greatest rounds ever, definitely in heavyweight history at least, - the tenth round of the first Holyfield fight. So certainly, he should have some sort of recognition.

That said, his career was a huge disappointment. So much promise and talent, flushed away by training in Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc. If ever there's a model that shows how fame and fortune can take away one's hunger (excuse the irony), then Bowe is it.
His title defences were poor against poor opposition, and he allowed what could have been the defining heavyweight fight of the 1990's to slip away by not fighting Lewis (I would have favoured Lennox to win by the way).
Maybe a lot of it had to do with Rock Newman, but still, when you're heavyweight champion of the world, you carry some stroke and you have to take responsibility for yourself.

Riddick Bowe COULD possibly have been one of the all time greats, but unfortunately history isn't very kind to could-have-beens. Instead, perhaps unfairly, his best achievements are remembered as a footnote to Holyfield's career.

Very sad to hear of his problems and misfortunes away from the ring though. Bowe always came across as a charismatic, funny and nice guy in interviews. Kind of like a big kid who never grew up. Perhaps that was the problem, as it was the big kid attitude that denied him the right level of dedication and discipline needed to sustain a top level career in boxing.