Thread: If Mike Tyson had fought Riddick Bowe

Hey guys I've been visiting saddo boxing for a while now, and wanted to ask what your opinion is on how Riddick Bowe would have fared against Mike Tyson.

Their careers sort of dodged each other as Mike was in jail when Bowe was in his prime.
I can't help thinking that despite having the potential to be one the most exciting heavyweight fights of all time. Bowe could have stuck it out, he could fight inside and at long range, he had a good jab. He could also take a punch I think Tyson would have knocked him down, but Bowe always managed to get up against Holyfield and Golota. (even after several nut shots).

My gut feeling is that prime none fat Bowe would beat Tyson in a decision victory, reverting Mike back to throwing single shots and looking confused by the round 6 or 7; but I am far from certain on this.
What do you guys think? Who would have won?

a prime riddick bowe would have KO'd that rapist, wife beating, mike tyson who i believe was a huge hype job. aside from getting spanked by the incomparable (sarcasm) buster douglas, the first real great fighter he fought (holyfield) showed he was a hyper job. he's very fortunate to have fought in the mid-late 80's instead of the rough and tumble 70's cause he would have never have won any title.

I think this is a pick 'em fight....

The fight plan for Bowe
Use the height, use the jab, tie up on the inside. Use your superior athletic ability to move and counter.

The fight plan for Tyson
Slip the jab, cut off the ring, use angles to attack and counter. Apply steady pressure, throw punches in combinations, and to cheat a little initiate the clinch, break early and fire off combinations.

Why Bowe wouldn't win
As dominant as Bowe was, he NEVER fought a big time power puncher like Tyson or anywhere near Tyson. Riddick got rocked by Holyfield and at times despite his physical abilities he had the tendency to be lazy in the ring, allowing himself to take punishment and allowing shorter fighters to fight on the inside.

Why Tyson wouldn't win
Mike Tyson had a weak psyche and if he was stood up to he could be broken. Riddick Bowe for whatever flaws he had, he possessed an enormous amount of heart when challeneged. The biggest flaw of Tyson's style was that he had to be in close to do damage and if he was kept at distance and tied up on the inside he could be shut out.

I see it like this.....45% Tyson wins by KO/TKO in the early to middle rounds, 50% Bowe wins by KO/TKO in the late rounds, and 5% Bowe wins by decision.

Originally Posted by Mctaggert

Hey guys I've been visiting saddo boxing for a while now, and wanted to ask what your opinion is on how Riddick Bowe would have fared against Mike Tyson.

Their careers sort of dodged each other as Mike was in jail when Bowe was in his prime.
I can't help thinking that despite having the potential to be one the most exciting heavyweight fights of all time. Bowe could have stuck it out, he could fight inside and at long range, he had a good jab. He could also take a punch I think Tyson would have knocked him down, but Bowe always managed to get up against Holyfield and Golota. (even after several nut shots).

My gut feeling is that prime none fat Bowe would beat Tyson in a decision victory, reverting Mike back to throwing single shots and looking confused by the round 6 or 7; but I am far from certain on this.
What do you guys think? Who would have won?

I think Riddick Bowe he had a great uppercut on the inside, great inside fighting skills. Good chin and a great fighting heart, he struggled against fighters who fought him on the outside aka Tony Tubbs, Tyrell Biggs, Evander Holyfield 2, Andrew Golota 1 and 2.

But on the inside he was quite masterful to watch, and even though a prime Mike Tyson was great. He wasn't unbeatable like some people claim, and a 6'5 Heavyweight with a good chin and great inside fighting seems like Mike Tyson's worse nightmare.

Good call ICB, but I just question Riddick Bowe's chin, I mean the biggest puncher he fought was Herbie Hide and Evander Holyfield put him on his ass once too...and we all know what Lewis did to him in the amateurs as well. So I do give Tyson a solid shot at not only beating him but stopping him.

Ive gone back and forth on this as far as picks so much but today,now....I think Tyson gets him. Bowe in tip top form ,which was rare, had some spectacular physical strengths and could be very diverse. Closed distance off long jab and showed some short fluid inside combinations but he rarely...if ever faced the speed/power coming underneath as he would face in Tyson. Nearly all of his opponents fought tall entirely save for Holyfield warring in the first go and Coetzer who had as many dimensions as a straight line. Seldon just blitzed him short....Cooper

Just think Tyson had faced what he could expect from opponent more then Bowe had. Mostly in terms of bigger,tall long jab and once he...and he would,find his way inside under Bowe it would leave Bowe in a bit of a lurch looking for uppercuts. He might get caught in between styles trying to reclaim distance because I just dont think he hangs with Tysons speed and shifting stance without needing to get out. Douglas mastered it but kept movement and distance off sharp power.....as nuts as it sounds I think that Douglas was more fluid with faster feet and sharper than most Bowes I remember. Mentally Bowe showed metal with Holyfield.later with Golota but he had moments of faulter too...and much was how he carried himself,preparation or lack there of. Hide dinged him, Holyfield 3 good times and even tubby Mathis frustrated him in a fight Bowe should have clearly have been dq'd in. Today...I pick Tyson via tko late but ask me in a week and who knows

Originally Posted by milmascaras1

a prime riddick bowe would have KO'd that rapist, wife beating, mike tyson who i believe was a huge hype job. aside from getting spanked by the incomparable (sarcasm) buster douglas, the first real great fighter he fought (holyfield) showed he was a hyper job. he's very fortunate to have fought in the mid-late 80's instead of the rough and tumble 70's cause he would have never have won any title.

yet he has wins over Ruddock, Bruno, Holmes, Spinks, and others

if Tyson was a "hype job", then what the hell are guys like Chambers, Arreola, and McCline who with the heavyweight division being at it's worst still can't manage to win a strap

Bowe would beat Tyson if he used his jab and countered Tyson with the uppercut while coming in, but Mike had the power and speed to drop Bowe

This is a hard fight to call IMO. One thing I will say though is I don't think it would go the distance. I hear time and time again how good Bowe's chin was but was really tested against someone of Tysons power or speed? No. Also I felt as though Evander was not far off stopping him when the fan man came into the ring in their second fight. So as far as Tyson goes I think he COULD KO Bowe.

On the other hand if Bowe was keeping Tyson at bay and winning the fight in the later rounds I think Tyson would fall eventually and I think Tysons heart would give out on him as it did in pretty much all his defeats.

Tyson IMO didn't have the mental toughness to be truly great in the ring and to me Bowe didn't have the mental toughness outside the ring to stay out of the fridge and be great in it.

Two greats I think Tyson stop him.

Originally Posted by rjj tszyu

This is a hard fight to call IMO. One thing I will say though is I don't think it would go the distance. I hear time and time again how good Bowe's chin was but was really tested against someone of Tysons power or speed? No. Also I felt as though Evander was not far off stopping him when the fan man came into the ring in their second fight. So as far as Tyson goes I think he COULD KO Bowe.

On the other hand if Bowe was keeping Tyson at bay and winning the fight in the later rounds I think Tyson would fall eventually and I think Tysons heart would give out on him as it did in pretty much all his defeats.

Tyson IMO didn't have the mental toughness to be truly great in the ring and to me Bowe didn't have the mental toughness outside the ring to stay out of the fridge and be great in it.

Really mate ? i felt the total opposite, Evander Holyfield comeback in the 4th 5th 6th rounds. But in the 7th round Riddick Bowe was regaining control of the fight when the fan man come in, i think you should watch that again mate beause i think the total opposite.

As for Riddick Bowe's chin, well i wouldn't say he had a granite chin. But it was quite a solid chin with great heart. I mean how many Heavyweight's could of took that punishment in the 2nd Andrew Golota fight.

You have to have a good chin and have some balls, to wishstand that hammering he took. I mean in one round he took 70+ power punches and thats a crazy amount for Featherweight's let alone Heavyweights.

Since this is a hypothetical match up where I"m assuming the best version of Tyson and best version of Bowe shows up, I go with Tyson.

Originally Posted by ICB

Originally Posted by rjj tszyu

This is a hard fight to call IMO. One thing I will say though is I don't think it would go the distance. I hear time and time again how good Bowe's chin was but was really tested against someone of Tysons power or speed? No. Also I felt as though Evander was not far off stopping him when the fan man came into the ring in their second fight. So as far as Tyson goes I think he COULD KO Bowe.

On the other hand if Bowe was keeping Tyson at bay and winning the fight in the later rounds I think Tyson would fall eventually and I think Tysons heart would give out on him as it did in pretty much all his defeats.

Tyson IMO didn't have the mental toughness to be truly great in the ring and to me Bowe didn't have the mental toughness outside the ring to stay out of the fridge and be great in it.

Really mate ? i felt the total opposite, Evander Holyfield comeback in the 4th 5th 6th rounds. But in the 7th round Riddick Bowe was regaining control of the fight when the fan man come in, i think you should watch that again mate beause i think the total opposite.

As for Riddick Bowe's chin, well i wouldn't say he had a granite chin. But it was quite a solid chin with great heart. I mean how many Heavyweight's could of took that punishment in the 2nd Andrew Golota fight.

You have to have a good chin and have some balls, to wishstand that hammering he took. I mean in one round he took 70+ power punches and thats a crazy amount for Featherweight's let alone Heavyweights.

I see your point, but I felt that Bowe was giving his final effort in that round knowing that Holyfield was starting to dominate and was edging towards the KO. Just my view on it though mate and as I said I can totally see where your coming from.



Here it is anyway for anyone else who wants to have a look!

Bowe style would be very difficullt for Tyson. Plus Bowe was avery good inside fighter.

Originally Posted by holmcall

Bowe style would be very difficullt for Tyson. Plus Bowe was avery good inside fighter.

Yes Bowe was good on the inside but if you allow Tyson to fight you on the inside you're begging for a beat down.

I just think if Holyfield can rock the hell out of Riddick Bowe then Tyson with quick combinations and good head movement can do the same.


I hate to do this because I think both Holmes and Bowe were a bit better than this fight, but this hypothetical match reminds me of Tyson-Holmes....Holmes had a PROVEN rock solid chin and Tyson just wrecked his world. Granted it was on short notice, but I figure Bowe wouldn't have had added much more speed, power, or defense than Holmes did.

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Originally Posted by holmcall

Bowe style would be very difficullt for Tyson. Plus Bowe was avery good inside fighter.

Yes Bowe was good on the inside but if you allow Tyson to fight you on the inside you're begging for a beat down.

I just think if Holyfield can rock the hell out of Riddick Bowe then Tyson with quick combinations and good head movement can do the same.


I hate to do this because I think both Holmes and Bowe were a bit better than this fight, but this hypothetical match reminds me of Tyson-Holmes....Holmes had a PROVEN rock solid chin and Tyson just wrecked his world. Granted it was on short notice, but I figure Bowe wouldn't have had added much more speed, power, or defense than Holmes did.

On the flipside though Holmes was definitely on the slide. I think a prime Holmes takes Tyson.