Riddick Bowe vs. George Foreman

[Luigi1985]

I not meant prime4prime, I actually meant the 90s- Foreman, IMO a pretty solid matchup, because Bowe liked to fight in the inside instead of using his height/ reach- advantages and Foreman had an iron chin and great power. Your thoughts?

[brownpimp88]

bowe and pretty easily too.

[Luigi1985]

bowe and pretty easily too.


I he boxes I would pick him viá wide UD. But his constant infighting would be dangerous against Foreman, Riddick had a good chin, but not an iron chin where he could toy with Big George there IMO...

[Russell]

Yeah, it wouldn't be smart for Bowe to get on the inside with a motivated Geoge, comeback or not.

Foreman literally almost decapitated Mike Jameson with an uppercut shortly before he stopped him, and that guy used to be a sparring partner for Tyson.

[brownpimp88]

I he boxes I would pick him viá wide UD. But his constant infighting would be dangerous against Foreman, Riddick had a good chin, but not an iron chin where he could toy with Big George there IMO...
Yeah but that george foreman was slow and he really had to set his punches, by the time he lands big shots, his face will already look like hamburger meat.

[Luigi1985]

Yeah but that george foreman was slow and he really had to set his punches, by the time he lands big shots, his face will already look like hamburger meat.


:yep

Like against his "win" over Stewart. I agree with you, but let´s not forget that Bowe wasn´t also a speed damon or so. But I would see it similar like you...

[dpw417]

Didn't Foreman campaign for a shot at Bowe? I remember them together at some award show...Foreman acted like he was pulling a contract out of his jacket, wanting Bowe to sign...

[AnthonyJ74]

Didn't Foreman campaign for a shot at Bowe? I remember them together at some award show...Foreman acted like he was pulling a contract out of his jacket, wanting Bowe to sign...

Yeah, Foreman wanted to fight Bowe for the title in 1993, but the fight got scrapped after Bowe's management team decided not to agree to all of Foreman's outrageous demands, like asking for equal billing and half of the purse money!

But when George won the title against Moorer, Bowe was an active contender and George all of a sudden didn't care to fight him. But anyways, Bowe would have beat George easy; no problem! George's power was overrated in his comeback, and against a big, heavy guy like Bowe, George's power would be average at best. And Bowe's long reach, jab, mobility, and overall boxing ability would make George look way out of his league!

[Sonny's jab]

Bowe would have won, but Foreman goes the distance.

[Sardu]

One question Luigi - Are we considering Foreman's first career or second one? I think it is a fair question because Foreman's style changed and he became a smarter (albeit) slower fighter due to advanced age. He seemed to have better stamina later on. Ironically, I think the older Foreman of his second career fares better against Bowe. The earlier George might have gassed out trying to knock Bowe out early. The second Foreman probably would have lost most of the early rounds and taken Bowe out late, ala Michael Moorer.

[Lobotomy]

One thing's for sure. George would not let Bowe come inside. He'd just shove Big Daddy away to his own comfortable punching range. If Bowe moved and boxed patiently, he could get a decision. Put Eddie Futch in his corner, and that's what would happen.

[Sardu]

I not meant prime4prime, I actually meant the 90s- Foreman, IMO a pretty solid matchup, because Bowe liked to fight in the inside instead of using his height/ reach- advantages and Foreman had an iron chin and great power. Your thoughts?


Oh okay now the 1990's Big George. I think the early 90's George who gave Holyfield a competitive fight could beat Bowe. No one out strengths Foreman and that seemed to be a big part of Bowe's strategy. Holyfield said Foreman was by far the strongest man he ever faced. That is saying a lot!

[godking]

Yeah, Foreman wanted to fight Bowe for the title in 1993, but the fight got scrapped after Bowe's management team decided not to agree to all of Foreman's outrageous demands, like asking for equal billing and half of the purse money!

But when George won the title against Moorer, Bowe was an active contender and George all of a sudden didn't care to fight him. But anyways, Bowe would have beat George easy; no problem! George's power was overrated in his comeback, and against a big, heavy guy like Bowe, George's power would be average at best. And Bowe's long reach, jab, mobility, and overall boxing ability would make George look way out of his league!What ''mobility'' did Bowe have ?

[Russell]

One thing's for sure. George would not let Bowe come inside. He'd just shove Big Daddy away to his own comfortable punching range. If Bowe moved and boxed patiently, he could get a decision. Put Eddie Futch in his corner, and that's what would happen.

Yeah, Holyfield was manuevering Bowe around the ring.

Foreman could probably topple him over.

[AnthonyJ74]

What ''mobility'' did Bowe have ?

The mobility that George didn't.

[fists of fury]

bowe and pretty easily too.

I agree. It's hard to see how Foreman could win.

[fists of fury]

Oh okay now the 1990's Big George. I think the early 90's George who gave Holyfield a competitive fight could beat Bowe. No one out strengths Foreman and that seemed to be a big part of Bowe's strategy. Holyfield said Foreman was by far the strongest man he ever faced. That is saying a lot!

Was he really that competitive against Holyfield though? Sure, he lasted the distance, but I can't recall him winning more than 2 or 3 rounds.
Look what Bowe did with the same Evander (first fight.)

[Holmes' Jab]

I agree. It's hard to see how Foreman could win.

Comfortable enough UD for Bowe, perhaps an outside chance of a late stoppage (though I can't see it).


Peak-for-peak might well be a different matter. Bowe is sure as hell capable of outboxing Foreman but would get drawn into a brawl, I think and that would cost him. In this case Foreman stops him during the mid-rounds IMO.

[fists of fury]

Peak-for-peak might well be a different matter. Bowe is sure as hell capable of outboxing Foreman but would get drawn into a brawl, I think and that would cost him. In this case Foreman stops him during the mid-rounds IMO.

True that. Foreman, despite his many shortcomings, was a beast in his prime. If you hurt him, you were in deep shit.

[ChrisPontius]

Foreman gets beat up badly.. so does Bowe, though. He won't stay away from Foreman who will still land a lot of punches. But Bowe's handspeed, punch output and stamina might make it a Stewart-esque night for Foreman.

[Holmes' Jab]

True that. Foreman, despite his many shortcomings, was a beast in his prime. If you hurt him, you were in deep shit.

Yep. We all knew how hellishly durable Frazier was and yet he simply got manhandled, decked repeatedly and hurt very badly. Bowe has the skills at his best and was a fine fighter, but his macho for the sake of it attitude would have been his downfall against massive punchers like Tyson, Lewis, Liston and Foreman etc. Any guys looking to make it an exclusively inside fight against Foreman are asking for big trouble (perhaps with the exception of Tyson, given his insane handspeed).

If Holyfield had the concussive power of those guys he'd have won each of the three fights IMO.

[AnthonyJ74]

Was he really that competitive against Holyfield though? Sure, he lasted the distance, but I can't recall him winning more than 2 or 3 rounds.
Look what Bowe did with the same Evander (first fight.)

Looking at that fight rationally with an unbiased eye, it was a total mismatch! Holyfield's hand speed was just way too much for Foreman to deal with. Although Bowe wasn't as fast as Holyfield, he was much bigger and stronger, and he had more tools to bother Foreman with - punching power, reach, height.

[mr. magoo]

If this was the Goerge Foreman in the best part of his comeback around 1991, then it goes the distance with Bowe winning a decision, but it may not be as wide as people think. Bowe did not easily bully around other big men the way he did against fighters who were smaller than him. Additionally, Riddick was hurt badly by the stiff strait jab of Golata, and Foreman had a fairly powerful jab in his comeback too. Also, these guys would have a fair amount of time wrestling on the inside, and thats when Goerge would give him those little gut checks that he always liked to do on the clinches.

On the otherhand, if this were the Foreman of the latter part of his comeback who fought Alxel Shcultz and Lou Savarese, then I think Bowe wins by a wider decision and even leaves George's face looking ugly.

[DamonD]

The mobility that George didn't.
Yeah...Bowe is no twinkled-toed mover, but he's still quicker on his feet than an old Foreman.

[Russell]

I don't think Bowe brawled because he had macho delusions, a need to prove himself...

I honestly just think he was too damned dumb to think on his feet sometimes. He'd fall asleep in the ring and need to be force fed what to do between rounds.

He seemed to fight the fight of the person he was going against, a lot.

[AnthonyJ74]

If this was the Goerge Foreman in the best part of his comeback around 1991, then it goes the distance with Bowe winning a decision, but it may not be as wide as people think. Bowe did not easily bully around other big men the way he did against fighters who were smaller than him. Additionally, Riddick was hurt badly by the stiff strait jab of Golata, and Foreman had a fairly powerful jab in his comeback too. Also, these guys would have a fair amount of time wrestling on the inside, and thats when Goerge would give him those little gut checks that he always liked to do on the clinches.

On the otherhand, if this were the Foreman of the latter part of his comeback who fought Alxel Shcultz and Lou Savarese, then I think Bowe wins by a wider decision and even leaves George's face looking ugly.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I think the Foreman who fought Briggs and Savarese was just as good as any earlier version of Foreman during his comeback. He just seemed more fluid and his overall boxing ability seemed better.

[laxpdx]

Assuming it's 1974-75 Foreman, I've got to go with Big George. It's hard for me to imagine anybody tangling with him on the inside and living to talk about it. I guess it would all come down to how well Big Daddy could use "rope-a-dope"......

[Bummy Davis]

I think Bowe had good skills for a Big man but he got hit too much to get hit by Foreman.....enough to make you slur

[Sweet Pea]

I he boxes I would pick him viá wide UD. But his constant infighting would be dangerous against Foreman, Riddick had a good chin, but not an iron chin where he could toy with Big George there IMO...Bowe was a better inside fighter than Foreman though, and Foreman wasn't really an in-fighter himself, just a power puncher who relied on pushing off for space to get off his big shots.

[Sweet Pea]

I don't think Bowe brawled because he had macho delusions, a need to prove himself...

I honestly just think he was too damned dumb to think on his feet sometimes. He'd fall asleep in the ring and need to be force fed what to do between rounds.

He seemed to fight the fight of the person he was going against, a lot.He could fight the opponent's fight with any of the opponents of the era IMO, at his best anyway. I genuinely think a peak Bowe was one of the most talented HW's of all time.

[MachineGunMitch]

you guys are delusional........Bowe gets KO'd fast......
In his prime every time Forman was in the ring (other than Ali) he was set on KILL..........Bowe was wishywashy on more occasions than not and could hardly beat Holyfield...Bowe is no Ali and had half the power of Forman not too mention ducked Lewis his entire career..


BigGeorge in 3

[Sweet Pea]

you guys are delusional........Bowe gets KO'd fast......
In his prime every time Forman was in the ring (other than Ali) he was set on KILL..........Bowe was wishywashy on more occasions than not and could hardly beat Holyfield...Bowe is no Ali and had half the power of Forman not too mention ducked Lewis his entire career..


BigGeorge in 3We're not talking about a prime Foreman, and even then Bowe stands a pretty good chance IMO. Holyfield beat the second career Foreman as well in case you forgot.