Ibeatahoochie got dis! Bowe was a better fighter overall, but Ibeabuchi had the perfect blend of size, chin, power and workrate to discourage Bowe and stop him. The African by late TO.
I suspect that we have different approaches to the way we pick winners of fights, especially in MMs. My approach is to consider where I`d put my money if I had to, considering the fight was happening now. When it comes to that, records and status go out of the window and I just put the two men in the ring and play out how the fight would go based on their styles and abilities relative to one another. I suspect that you, in MMs specifically, look at established greatness and body of work primarily when picking a winner. So you`d always go for the "establishment" pick, so to speak.
My prediction is based on the fact that Ike's ability was overrated, and in Bowe he's dealing with a number of tools he had never previously seen. Firstly, let me dispel the myth about Ike's supposedly legendary stamina. It's all based on the Tua fight. 95% of Ike's reputation is based on the Tua fight. But it was TUA, not IKE, who finished that fight strong, and in the 11th round Tua had Ike in trouble, which dispels the myth of Ike being unable to hurt. In Bowe, Ike would be facing a man with several inches of height on him, a good deal more reach, with a GREAT jab, and who could fight extremely well on the inside with some of the best uppercuts in history. Ike had GOOD power, but not the all time Tyson, Foreman, Lewis power that it'd take to do in Bowe. It'd be a war for throughout, but if anybody's finishing stronger it'd be BOWE. I see him having an edge on the inside, and I see Ike slowing down as the fight progresses after getting caught with uppercuts all night. If anybody's getting stopped late, it's ole overrated, crazy Ike.
I respect this post. You`ve broken it down and I think your logic is sound. I just hate it when people pick fights...JUST based on the reputation and established "greatness" of the combatants. Because with that way of thinking there is little point in discussing MMs because all you need do is ask "who is perceived as greater?" and make your pick (a lazy one) based on that. Many people do that here....for example if someone is considered considerably greater in terms of what they`ve achieved then by vitue of this they`d knock the other guy out in one round or dominate him 12 rounds to 0. My head spins at such ignorance.
great post X...really well done...my only small critique is that you left out Bowe's ability to absorb punishment which is another reason why I have him stopping Ike late in the fight. Also I also think Ike left himself way to open for shots. He wasn't afraid to trade shots and absorb shots. I also didn't like the way held his hands on the inside. Just asking for Bowe to nail him with that uppercut
In their best nights if they met..big daddy sodomizes him Ike would be selling mike n Ike's in ikea!!! Now if Ike fought Lemmon Ike would be like "you tryin to help Ike? You the mother fucka need help" He'd dominate Lemmon so bad Lemmon would change his name to Annie may
LOL LOL LOLOLOL LEMMON WHO ALMOST got killed by Mohawk Bum? Or Lemmon who lost to Holy and got a gift ? Or Lemmon who was KNOCKED OUT COLD. By Rahman ?
