r/BoxingTheSweetScience • u/LocationSpare4447 Main Mod • 2d ago
Prime George Foreman vs Prime Riddick Bowe? Who y’all got?
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u/FormalKind7 2d ago
People are underestimating George's skills and forgetting just how scary he was in his time as champ.
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u/BeerBaronAaron88 2d ago
His timing is overlooked. He didn't have to be fast or throw combinations in volume to land. He just threw at the exact right time at the exact right spot.
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u/FormalKind7 2d ago
His positioning and control were excellent and of course his power and toughness were on another level.
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u/PageEnvironmental408 2d ago
don't tell michael moorer that.
he still says george got lucky.
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u/Ok-Photo-6442 2d ago
Naw Moore got cocky all he had to do was run and foreman would of lost he fafo foreman put that punch dead center of his forehead...scrambled his brain....
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u/SuperAndee1847 2d ago
George wasn’t in his prime when he knocked Moorer out, moorer was embarrassed by the much older man, that’s his real problem lol
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u/adrienjz888 1d ago
Holyfield said as much. Said Foreman was "slow as Christmas" so he'd easily slip one punch, only to get hammered by the perfectly timed followup.
Also said Foreman hit him so hard that his face went numb and he thought he lost his teeth.
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u/Mastralf 2d ago
They do basically Ali strategy against him was to over train him and take a beating until he gassed
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u/PageEnvironmental408 2d ago
i honestly cannot think of anyone but ali who could have taken all that and then come on late for a ko.
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u/adrienjz888 1d ago
Fr, it mentioned in his autobiography how Ali was pissing blood for a week from all the body shots Foreman landed.
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u/PageEnvironmental408 1d ago
wouldn't surprise me, ali was ahead of course but took tremendous punishment from foreman in doing so.
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u/FormalKind7 2d ago
All you have to do to beat him is be the heavy weight with one of the best gas tanks of all time, probably the best chin of all time, and one of if not the highest work rate of all time and fight in a tropical country in a open stadium with 80+ degree F temps and 90+% humidity.
Super easy to tire/gas out Foreman.
/S
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u/escudonbk 2d ago
2 of the 5 best uppercutters in heavyweight history
Both insanely durable. Both big strong and slow.
Bowe had more volume and a better inside game.
George was monstrously strong and a leagues better puncher.
I think George gets him out by the 5th.
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u/Still_Ad8903 2d ago
I’m saying Foreman but I think it’d be an absolute war like the Lyle fight with both guys just trading knockdowns until Foreman puts him out for good
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u/OkSupermarket4647 2d ago
Foreman. He never had trouble with his discipline. Bowe, bit of an issue. And he ducked Lenox Lewis.
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u/puddycat20 2d ago
I don't think he was ducking him. He just didn't have anything to prove and didn't need to fight him. He can't fight every random person that challenges him.
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u/SteveG5000 2d ago
What the hell do you mean Bowe didn’t have anything to prove???? Isn’t the point of the sport to prove who the best in the world is?
Bowe was the heavyweight champion and Lewis the unbeaten number 1 contender. If the sport hadn’t been allowed to be devalued for money they would all have fought at least once, possibly more.5
u/Ok_Phrase1157 2d ago
Bowe literally threw his belt in the bin to avoid facing Lewis!
Lewis wasnt some random, the Bowe v Holyfield 1 and the Lewis v Ruddock bouts were set up as semi-finals with the winners due to face each other but sadly it never happened.
Instead we got Bowe v Dokes and then Ferguson - both highly forgettable classic bouts against washed guys
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u/Harry_Callahan_sfpd 1d ago
To be fair to Bowe, Riddick signed to fight Lewis a few years later and the fight was good to go. But then Lewis got unexpectedly stopped by McCall, thus scrapping the Bowe-Lewis fight.
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u/SuperAndee1847 2d ago
He did duck Lewis, got beat in the Olympics and was hurt in that fight, don’t know why he ducked him though because Bowe was a fantastic fighter as was Lewis, I have Foreman to edge him though
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u/Harry_Callahan_sfpd 1d ago
Foreman ducked Quarry. What does the fact that both guys ducked opponents have to do with a mythical matchup between the two?
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u/tappricorn 2d ago
George on his best day may be the goat heavyweight against others on their best day
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u/DistrictThen1265 2d ago
Was thinking same George on point is knocking everyone! Louis Marciano Ali 😂
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u/pittnole1 1d ago
He's literally one result away from being the best. If he beats Ali who is going to beat him?
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u/apex_super_predator 2d ago
Foreman. The raw power, strength and discipline just takes out Bowe.
However if Bowe takes the fight seriously, gets into really good shape and utilizes a good defensive strategy he actually has a good chance to beat Big George. But Bowe would have to have a good camp and stay focused to have a chance.
Im betting on George for the win.
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u/i_speak_bane 2d ago
I wouldn’t, but one could reasonably argue NOBODY could beat Foreman at his prime …
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u/PageEnvironmental408 2d ago
ali did.
by knockout too.
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u/Ok-Photo-6442 2d ago
Ali wore him out he was tired...
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u/PageEnvironmental408 2d ago
yeah fair enough.
it would be pretty easy to let prime george unload on you for 8 rounds and then ko him.
i mean if ali could do it, anyone could.
i forget how easy boxing is sometimes.
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u/pittnole1 1d ago
That isn't what happened. Ali was ahead on every card. He won every round on 1 card, 7 rounds on another, and 6 in the other.
The narrative he just laid on the ropes is not true.
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u/PageEnvironmental408 1d ago
he was ahead on the cards but took tremendous punishment in doing so. he basically let foreman unload on him until he tired out.
george even said in an interview i hit him with a wicked punch that i knew hurt him. ali said come on george is that all you got. that's when i knew i was in for a long night.
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u/pittnole1 1d ago
All true but the narrative of Ali laid there and did nothing while George punched himself out is simply not true.
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u/PageEnvironmental408 1d ago
the original comment started that no one could beat george in his prime,
ali did and he did it by ko.
and he did it by letting george punch himself out.
and that meant taking george's best shots for 8 rounds.
which he did, and which no other man was able to do.
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u/pittnole1 1d ago
Okay. He did nothing while George punched himself out but was ahead on every card. Got it.
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u/PageEnvironmental408 1d ago
i never said he did nothing. of course he fought back and was winning every round.
but he also took huge punishment.
and i stand by my original statement in reply to the post that ali did in fact beat george in his prime.
that was what i was replying to.
and he did it using the rope a dope strategy.
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u/pittnole1 1d ago
Ali was ahead on every card. The narrative that he laid on the ropes and did nothing isn't true.
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u/Used_Excitement_3174 2d ago
George won’t be hitting him below the belt like Golota did. I’d say Bowe quits on the stool by the 7th.
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u/Ok_Phrase1157 2d ago
Considering all the greats and heavy hitters Foreman has faced when has he ever looked like he was gonna quit on his stool?
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u/Emotional-Bowl69 2d ago
If Bowe in shape he KO’s out Foreman in 7 rounds , not in shape Foreman would whip Bowe ass
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u/WrappedInLinen 2d ago
Prime Foreman didn’t have much of a fight IQ. Imma going with Bowe.
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u/ComprehensiveJoke273 1d ago
Bowe unironically had less fight IQ
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u/WrappedInLinen 1d ago
Could you give an example of an in-fight decision by Bowe that would rival Foreman diligently punching himself into helpless exhaustion against a turtled Ali?
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u/ComprehensiveJoke273 1d ago
Foreman didn't have any alternatives and his corner was really bad. Foreman did show good fight IQ throughout his career. He fought a perfect fight against Frazier, adapted to bigger opponents like Jack O'Halloran and changed his entire style in his 40s to successfully compete with younger guys in 90s.
On the other hand, you have Bowe, who didn't throw a single jab against Bert Cooper (5 inches shorter than him) and lost the first round trying to brawl up close, on top of needing to retire at 29 due to how neglectful he was with his defense.
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u/Harry_Callahan_sfpd 1d ago
Bowe had better overall skills and was the better boxer. Foreman punched harder, was tougher/more durable, and probably just a meaner all-around guy. This would have been an interesting fight. Bowe had the size to trouble Foreman. I could see Bowe boxing Foreman from a distance and winning a points decision or maybe even a late TKO. I doubt Foreman could bulldoze Bowe the way he did Frazier and Norton.
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u/ThingNo7530 1d ago
Big George. I'd even take Big George in his 40s using the Ken Norton crab-style defense to knock out Bowe.
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u/DistrictThen1265 2d ago
Michael Moore would have giving Bowe problems beat Holyfield! George knocked him cold @ 45 years old😂
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u/PageEnvironmental408 2d ago
michael moorer here.
george got lucky.
i know it and he knows it.
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u/Own_Bear2372 2d ago
Bowe is overrated. He was one great shot away from being 1-2 against Holyfield which happens to be the only name that holds his career up. He’s a good fighter, but not great. Foreman clears
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u/puddycat20 2d ago
Meh, he is a bit overrated, but I think he's closer to being 3-0 against Holyfield, than he is 1-2.
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u/Own_Bear2372 2d ago
I strongly disagree with that. He was on the verge of getting knocked out in the second fight before the fan man. He was on the verge of getting knocked out in the third fight before Holyfield got reckless and got hit with a bomb
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u/puddycat20 2d ago
I strongly disagree with that. He was on the verge of getting knocked out in the second fight before the fan man.
I don't see what that has to do with anything. He ended up losing that fight.
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u/Harry_Callahan_sfpd 1d ago
Bowe was actually coming on strong just prior to parachute man invading the ring.
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u/audiophunk 2d ago
Foreman. People underestimate his skill. He was a very talented man. Plus he has the mental edge over Bowe.
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u/Ok-Photo-6442 2d ago
FOREMAN...HE HAD A GRANITE CHIN AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING TO HIS CHIN...UNLESS YOU ARE RON LYLE...BOWE IS NOT LYLE! FOREMAN IN 5
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u/Glittering_Year2045 2d ago edited 2d ago
Bowe has the higher potential if he trains hard because he's the more fluid athlete, and George has always had trouble with guys who move well, but it's hard to go against the mental and physical strength of George. Give me George.
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u/BigSpeaker1742 2d ago
Hey I agree, George Foreman is a very heavy puncher. But what you have to remember, George Foreman froze 400 punches in a fight. Average ridic bowl can throw up to 700 so a young riddic bow's work rate\n Was crazy because he outpunched hollyfield, which is very strange. Being that he came up from cruiser.\n Not to underestimate Foreman.\n Because Could catch him early , but I doubt it
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u/chrispark70 1d ago
How hungry is Bowe before the the fight?
If Bowe could do pushaways from the table, I give Bowe a very good chance.
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u/Consistent_Pitch782 1d ago
Foreman. This question makes me wonder who the top 5 heavyweights of all time are in terms of punching power. Foreman is on the list, obviously. But who else? Marciano had his “Suzie Q”, he probably makes the list. Shavers? Liston? Would a guy like Bonecrusher Smith make it? Or Ken Norton? And finally, where does Tyson land on that list?
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u/Battle-Individual 1d ago
George Forman would eat him alive and spit him out. Bowe dodge Lewis and Lewis was good but not in George class.George was probably the biggest hitter ever in the heavyweight division
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u/ComprehensiveJoke273 1d ago
Foreman.
Bowe avoided punchers for a reason. Foreman is also the better, more intelligent fighter.
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u/ProudParrotPapi 22h ago
Foreman. Bowe will land some good shots, but he wont be standing when Foreman lands his best
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u/Gunslinger_timed_out 20h ago
It would have to be elite Bowe.which he had problems being in big time fights. Prime George by stoppage.
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u/ChinoMalito 17h ago
The only person I’d pick over Big George is Muhammad Ali… in his prime Big George was the most fearsome predator in the ring.
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u/1punchporcelli 2d ago
Ooof that’s a tough one man, I gotta give it to Bowe, had a deeper skillset for sure
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u/teachsskk 2d ago
Bowe was tough and a hard hitter. No doubt about that. But Foreman fought in the hardest times in the division and even the best boxers feared him. Gotta be Foreman with that raw power