Riddick Bowe (1992) vs. Anthony Joshua (2018) ?

[ValMar]

Very interesting fantasy match ? What do you think ?

[DrDuke]

Povetkin was able to close the distance and land some good punches, Bowe would have done it even better. It would have been a grueling fight for Joshua. I'd say, Bowe would have outfought him in close quarters to the late stoppage.

[oogiebe]

Not a big fan of him, but 1992 Riddick Bowe looked an ATG. He plowed through his opponents and showed a great 'feel' for the sweet science, as well as enough power to hurt any HW of that era. Amazing ability to fight inside for such a big man.

Too much Bowe for AJ.

[Enlightened-One]

Riddick Bowe often blew hot and cold. He looked absolutely terrible against Herbie Hide, Tony Tubbs and Andrew Golota, but utterly fantastic against Holyfield in their first bout.

So assuming we’re talking about the very best version of ‘Big Daddy’, then a combination of his all-round boxing ability, superior workrate and shots to the body would inevitably wear down the Brit en route to scoring a stoppage victory sometime between rounds eight and ten.

Anthony Joshua would have a punchers chance though, but I’d expect the Brit to lose a lot of his power due to having to constantly employ lateral movement, as I have no doubt that Bowe would take complete control of the centre of the ring, whilst keeping AJ on the back foot.

[Lackeos]

On paper, I don't think Joshua has done quite enough to be compared to a man who legit beat a prime Holyfield twice. Bowe is also the only person who ever got the better of a prime Holyfield (e.g. Moorer was 1-1, so he didn't get the better of, and Lennox didn't face a perfectly in-prime Holyfield), and no one has ever gotten the better of Bowe. As far as I am concerned, Bowe is probably an all-time top 10 heavyweight.

In reality, I think this fight is pretty close to 50/50. Joshua's got the better power, Bowe's got the better chin. I see no reason to think either fighter would outbox the other one, they would likely both be landing at will. Joshua would probably fight backwards and Bowe would probably be the hunter.

[Onetimeonly]

Bows by ko in 6 or 7. He was brutal inside.

[HyacinthusTurnipseed]

Joshua looks to have faster hands and he is a lot more mobile. And he is almost certainly the bigger puncher. Is AJ physically stronger? Perhaps he is, which would make Bowe's advantage on the inside harder to implement consistently effectively. AJ also looks a fair bit more responsible defensively than Bowe and (to me anyway) mentally tougher also.

On the other hand Bowe can fight at a pace and intensity that Joshua would really struggle to live with if he can effectively pin him down for stretches of time. Even though as stated Joshua strikes me as the mentally tougher of the two, if Bowe thinks he has got his opponent wilting he'll likely be willing to go through fire to stomp the resistance out of him anyway.

Ultimately I'm erring Joshua by TKO, the referee jumping in to save Bowe from further punishment between rounds 7-10. But I could see Bowe breaking him down at around the same time as well.

[Ron C]

On paper, I don't think Joshua has done quite enough to be compared to a man who legit beat a prime Holyfield twice. Bowe is also the only person who ever got the better of a prime Holyfield (e.g. Moorer was 1-1, so he didn't get the better of, and Lennox didn't face a perfectly in-prime Holyfield), and no one has ever gotten the better of Bowe. As far as I am concerned, Bowe is probably an all-time top 10 heavyweight.

In reality, I think this fight is pretty close to 50/50. Joshua's got the better power, Bowe's got the better chin. I see no reason to think either fighter would outbox the other one, they would likely both be landing at will. Joshua would probably fight backwards and Bowe would probably be the hunter.

I don't know about Moorer or Bowe 3 beating a prime Holyfield. I think that was the absolute worst Holyfield. Don't know if it was heart problems or hepatitis, but Holyfield seemed HORRIBLY off his game in his losses against Moorer and Bowe 3. I'll give Bowe full credit for the first Holyfield fight though

..............................

Good fight. I think I'd give Joshua the close decision

[Luckybattles]

The Bowe that fought Holyfield in 93 was a beast that would have stopped Joshua.. The fat and unmotivated Bowe of later years would have fought Anthony to a competitive match

[Evander]

Bowe was good in 92 I think Joshua would have his hands full.

[Cojimar 1946]

Bowe was the bigger man in his day in this matchup he is the smaller, physically weaker man against a bigger puncher. I think Bowe gets knocked out.

[candyslim]

Joshua by decision I'd say. He is a better boxer, has faster handspeed, and probably the bigger puncher. Bowe was a good fighter and very tough but a bit plodding. It wouldn't be easy but I think AJ'd have enough.

[caldo2025]

Early Riddick Bowe was as skillful as any heavyweight in history. Unfortunately, he put himself through too many wars and he didn't exactly win these fights on defensive skills. He just so much heart. I still can't believe the punches that he absorbed in the first two fights with Evander.

To his credit though, Joshua displayed the same kind of heart on several occasions. I think that AJ is getting better and in time will be as skillful as anything before him but now, I'd take Bowe. Ask me in a few years and I may say the exact opposite though.

[Syntax Error]

Bowe 1992 was his zenith.

He was never as good before or after as he was in 1992, particularly the night he fought Holyfield.

Bowe was easy to hit, but he had heart & a chin, allied to some world class offensive skills.

I'd give Riddick the nod over Joshua right now, but I will never totally count Joshua out, as he's shown enough in his career to suggest that he might be able to hang with Bowe, just about.