In 1992, the boxing world was elated to hear that Evander The Real Deal Holyfield was finally scheduled to fight number one contender Riddick Big Daddy Bowe.
At the time, the undefeated Holyfield had been criticized for mainly fighting over the hill boxers like Larry Holmes and George Foreman. It was not yet known at the time that Foreman was still very much championship level. So there was no better fighter to prove his legitimacy than the young, very big, and very skilled Riddick Bowe.
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Bowe, who had been brought in to spar as a young man during Holyfields train for cruiserweight fights back when Bowe was just an amateur, believed from experience that he had all the tools necessary to take the championship from Holyfield in a decisive fashion.
If nothing else, the unique styles possessed by both men would prove to make an interesting matchup.
HOLYFIELD STYLE
Holyfield’s strong, consistent rhythm was the backbone of his style. Holyfield’s constant motion meant that he always had momentum to put into his punches. Rather than commit more weight by stepping one foot at a time, Holyfield instead moved both feet together. This way he could execute more subtle, rapid adjustments than would otherwise have been possible. He could glide back and forth just at the edge of an opponents range, enticing them to overreach so that he could rebound right back to counter. Watching Holyfield at his best was like watching a violent ballet. Aside from footwork, Holyfield also used high guard, philly shell and cross guard tactics to stay safe. And this extra defense allowed him to effectively wrestle and in-fight against much larger men.
Often the man with the shorter reach, Holyfield’s infighting put him in range for rapid fire combinations, where he could expertly use one punch to set up the next. To top it all off, Holyfield was extremely intelligent, and would keep track of what he could hit you with and then build on it.
BOWE STYLE
In contrast to Holyfield’s high volume in and out style, Bowe was the quintessential boxer-puncher. He boasted one of the best jabs in boxing, and used it to control the ring and set up his harder shots. A fighter who can throw disciplined, tight shots and then suddenly transition to devastating haymaker’s is one of the most dangerous fighters to deal with. And Bowe could do this at both long range and close range, showcasing a signature power punch for each.
At long range, Bowe possessed a terrifying overhand right, which ended the night for many unfortunate opponents.
At close range, Bowe employed a powerful rear uppercut, which ruined the ambitions of many smaller competitors who had hoped to win the fight on the inside.
So many people focused on Bowes defense that they failed to realize how nuanced his defense was. By slipping, ducking, and sidestepping as he punched, Bowe could continue to apply pressure and close distance even while under attack. By intercepting an opponent’s jab with his own, Bowe stifled their ability to put together combinations, destroyed their rhythm, and made sure he wasn’t at risk of being outpointed.
But all of that aside, Bowe had one advantage that none of Holyfield’s competitors had enjoyed before. Having already sparred him as a young man, Bowe had been inspired by Holyfield’s techniques and work ethic, and knew exactly what to expect. And what he expected an absolute war. As it turns out, he was right.