For Riddick Bowe, one heavyweight stands alone as the greatest of all time.
Bowe is one of the greats of his own generation who won a silver medal at the 1998 Summer Olympics before turning pro and eventually going on to pick up the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1992 when he beat Evander Holyfield by unanimous decision. He beat ‘The Real Deal’ a second time in 1995 and eventually retired in 2008.
Although he fought at the same time as legends including Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson and George Foreman, ‘Big Daddy’ will sometimes be remembered for vacating his WBC title rather than taking a fight with Lewis, whom he lost to in a controversial bout in the amateurs.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Bowe admitted that, for him, no one comes close to one American legend when asked about the best to ever do it.
“Muhammad Ali. Nobody beat the guys he beat and did it the way he did it.”
Ali, who transcended the sport like no other boxer before or since, retired with a record of 56 wins and just 5 defeats from his 61 contests. Along the way he had legendary battles with George Foreman, known as the Rumble In The Jungle, and the Thrilla In Manila against Joe Frazier.
However, ‘The Greatest’ was not only heralded for what he achieved inside the ring, but out of it, too. He was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War and, as a result of refusing the draft, had his boxing licence taking away for several years during what would have been the peak of his career.
