Both have good jabs but we know who gets the nod here. Here's why. They say that Bowe fights well inside. However, the reason he does is because he has never had the discipline to train diligently. He looked great against the much smaller Holyfield. But fighting inside allowed him to conserve a lot of energy against Evander, who fought an uphill battle because he chose to go "mono-y-mono".
Holmes would keep the bout on the outside, forcing Bowe to use his jab. Guess whose jab falters first. Forget about Bowe having a clear edge inside. Holmes is stronger than Evander was in that first fight and he's got a very nasty attitude, one that Bowe would have trouble dealing with. Larry is essentially a clean fighter but, if Bowe wants to sling mud, Larry would accommodate.
Keeping the fight outside would force Bowe to exert energy he doesn't have. His jab begins to drop after the middle rounds. Bowe has a sturdy jaw but if the Hep-B riddled Holyfield could drop him in fight 3 with a hook, what do you think Holmes' right would do, especially in the late rounds when Holmes still has energy and Bowe is losing his?
Remember the right Holmes landed, the one that had Gerry Cooney doing a drunk ghetto version of hop-scotch>?. It finds the side of Bowe's head in round 10 after Bowe drops a lazy jab. Wobbling sideways, Bowe is sent along the ropes and to the canvas. He's up but Holmes begins to step it up, peppering Bowe with jab-right combinations. No one does it better than Holmes, especially when his opponent is wounded, not ALI, not Louis or Lewis, No One. The next three rounds are rather one side as Holmes chips away at what's left of Bowe. Like a man, single-handedly dismantling a brick house, the house is bigger but it can't fight back. Neither can Bowe at this point.
By round 13, Bowe is in serious deep water. He fights gamely but Holmes is now forcing him to eat right hands, one after another. Bowe is backed into a corner where Holmes drills him repeatedly until the referee watches Bowe's head snap back, sickening fashion, until the referee has seen enough, denying Holmes the opportunity to sink the giant ship before him.
Holmes by TKO in 13.
These are two of the great Eddie Futch's best fighters. In my opinion, Riddick Bowe lacked the heart and dedication, but he had the potential to be great. Bowe's only loss was to Evander Holyfield, who he beat twice, however Larry Holmes has more movement and will box circles around Bowe.
Holmes UD15.
Damn what a dream fight. There somewhat similar in that Holmes is a great outside fighter whos comfortable fighting inside, where Bowe is a great inside fighter and comfortable fighting from distance. Both are very well rounded and share similar strengths.
Holmes with his trademark jab unlike Ali, Lewis or Wlad can fight on the inside with hooks to the body and uppercuts rather than clinch if the distance was closed.
Bowe is unusual since hes a tall fighter whos best in close range with those fluid combos inside and he has a great jab himself and can fight tall. Both are well rounded.
lets see the intangebles
Power: Bowe
Speed: Holmes
footwork: Holmes
chin or heart: very close but slight edge to Bowe cause Holmes was dropped a couple by Shavers and Snipes
cardio and conditioning: Holmes since he fights 15 rounds and wins later rounds
technique and defense: Holmes
I think Holmes can outbox him cause if Bowe closes the distance Holmes can too fight inside pretty well but the distance game of Holmes is much better than Bowe's
Larry Holmes TKO RD 9
Holmes would of put a boxing clinic on Bowe. He would of jabbed, and toyed with Bowe, until Bowe was a beatin, and bloody mess.
I think it would be a struggle akin to Holmes scary fight versus Tim Witherspoon which he barely won. I think Bowe would trouble Holmes with his size, punching power and above average boxing/fighting skills. But Holmes would use his mobility, better boxing talent and experience to prevent Bowe from establishing any rhythm and getting into a comfortable fighting zone. Holmes by close 12 round UD.
