Tyson Fury has played a large part in defining this current heavyweight era.
The big man from Morecambe has statement wins over Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder, making him a two-time world champion. With the ability to move like a much smaller man but the attributes of a super-heavyweight, ‘The Gypsy King’ long had an argument as the very best in the division.
Though two losses to Oleksandr Usyk now give the Ukrainian a clear top spot, Fury – who has since announced his retirement – will go down as one of the top men of his generation, but how would he fare in days gone by?
Speaking to Tru School Sports, former undisputed heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe was asked how he thinks he would have stacked up against the likes of Fury and Usyk and made his answer clear.
“I’m going to jail for murder. Cause you know I’m not going to play with them. I’m going right to them. Three rounds, we going home … Everybody’s [stiff] now, they’re following each other around, nobody’s slipping, catching shots. In my era you had to do that. So if you’re not slipped and rolling and stopping shots, you eat them.”
Bowe burst onto the scene with a standout amateur career, culminating in a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics. As a pro, his formidable size and power quickly made him a force in the heavyweight division.
He scored his greatest triumph in 1992, defeating Evander Holyfield in a thrilling battle to claim the undisputed heavyweight championship. However, his refusal to face Lennox Lewis, and the infamous incident where he tossed his WBC belt in the bin live on television, somewhat tarnished his reputation and created a major ‘what if’ scenario in the sport’s history.
Despite that and other controversies, Bowe’s natural abilities were undeniable. He possessed a powerful jab, devastating right hand, and – like Fury – surprising agility for his size. His trilogy with Evander Holyfield, while marred by interruptions and odd incidents, produced some of the most memorable heavyweight fights of the 1990s.
