Riddick Bowe has shared his thoughts on some of boxing's biggest names. The former heavyweight champ ranked Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, and Mike Tyson from best to worst in a recent chat with Boxing News.
Bowe put Holyfield at the top of his list. He said Holyfield will "be there no matter what." That's high praise for a man who held all the major belts in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. Only Oleksandr Usyk has matched that feat since.
Lewis came in second on Bowe's list. He called Lewis the "biggest of all" and noted how tough he was. Lewis was the last undisputed heavyweight champ before Usyk. He beat Holyfield, Tyson, and Vitali Klitschko. What's more, Lewis avenged his only two losses against Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman.
Bowe ranked Tyson third. He said Tyson wasn't as durable as the others, but added that in his prime, Tyson "was the man who could knock anybody out." Tyson made history as the youngest heavyweight champ ever at 19. He was known for his punching power, with his first 12 fights all ending in the first round.
Tyson recently lost to Jake Paul in Texas, looking every bit his 58 years.
Bowe himself was no slouch in the ring. He became the undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1992 and won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics. He's best known for his thrilling trilogy with Holyfield, winning two out of three fights.
In his interview with Boxing News, Bowe explained his rankings:
"Holyfield's number one. No matter what, he's gonna be there. Number two is Lennox Lewis. He's the biggest of all and proved to be durable. Number three is Mike Tyson. He's not as durable as the others, but in his prime, he was the man who could knock anybody out."
These rankings might spark some debate among boxing fans. Each of these fighters left their mark on the sport in their own way. What's clear is that Bowe, having faced some of them himself, has a unique perspective on their abilities in the ring.
