If Riddick Bowe stayed in shape. . . Could he have been great?

[Syntax Error]

Isn't a silver medalist,
World Champion,

already great?

Not necessarily.

You can get boxing 'world' titles out of Rice Krispies boxes these days, although I accept this doesn't apply to Bowe.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Isn't a silver medalist,
World Champion,

already great?

Not necessarily.

You can get boxing 'world' titles out of Rice Krispies boxes these days, although I accept this doesn't apply to Bowe.

I mean it in the sense that everyone is always asking for more, even if it's irrational.

It all goes to whole bullshit notion of potential being judged by people/society who always believe "more is better".

If Bowe can't be satisfied, then 99.99% of people who've done anything can't be satisfied.

[Kalan]

I think both, the great Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe were natural and gifted fighters. The problem with them was lack of discipline after winning the title, especially in Bowe's case.

With Bowe, I haven't seen a heavyweight so big in my lifetime that could fight very well on the inside, something that is an art and very hard to do. He was a manager's dream: Tall at 6'5", great reach, great weight range when in shape (about 230-240lbs), power and technically gifted with decent speed. When motivated, he was a perfect fighting machine. I blame his management team for the downfall of his career. Bowe was one of the most tragic talents ever that if he would have proper motivation, he would have been in the discussion of the top 3 best heavyweight boxers ever

Here's what I have to say about Bowe's so-called "infighting" skills.. Bowe didn't box well from the outside as seen in the Tubbs fight, the 2nd Holyfield fight, and in the Golota fights.. You saw Lewis, Tyson, and Brewster made very short work of the inept Golota.. They destroyed the Foul Pole quickly and easily---but Bowe couldn't come close to doing that.. Bowe never fought any big Heavyweight who had any world class ability or any great punching power.. He had a great opportunity to fight his mandatory challenger, Lennox Lewis for a monster pay-day, but threw his Championship Belt in the trash can.

The smallish cruiserweight, Holyfield, got away from his game plan in his other 2 fights with Bowe.. He brawled with a bigger, taller, and stronger man.. That was stupid because that was Bowe's only chance.. What some call skillful infighting by Bowe, I call brawling and trading punches inside because he couldn't box from the outside.. A skillful infighter like Jack Johnson or Luis Ortiz didn't trade punches inside, or throw a burst like Bowe who then got hit with a flurry himself.. They slid off your inside shots and clocked you with telling hooks and uppercuts.. They weren't taking and trading.. They were maneuvering, finessing, defending, and countering on the inside.. Bowe had a short prime because he couldn't defend well.