Why not Bowe vs Tyson?

[Beanflicker]

Just rewatched the classic Tyson/Holyfield 1 fight. Couldn't help but wonder why they never put a Bowe/Tyson fight together at that time? Holyfield had been decisively KO'd by Bowe only 2 fights before his megafight with Tyson.

Did Bowe just not have enough public interest? Did Tyson's camp see Holyfield as an easier fight, with Evander having been stopped by Bowe only 2 fights previous?

I wasn't following boxing back then, anyone remember the circumstances as to why Holyfield got the shot?

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

I remember watching Mills Lane interwiew saying he felt Bowe was a notch better than Tyson....but i would have loved to see them fight then.

Bowe's best came and went while Mike was locked up. I dont think bowe was on the radar when Tyson went to prison. By the time he got out Bowe was taking a pounding from Andrew Golota.

The original plan was that Bowe would fight Lewis in early '96, then Tyson in late '96 or early '97.

However, Main Events were very keen on pushing Andrew Golota and successfully lobbied HBO to 'jump the gun' on that fight to arrange Bowe vs Golota instead.

The rest is history...

[Beanflicker]

The original plan was that Bowe would fight Lewis in early '96, then Tyson in late '96 or early '97.

However, Main Events were very keen on pushing Andrew Golota and successfully lobbied HBO to 'jump the gun' on that fight to arrange Bowe vs Golota instead.

The rest is history...

Ahh, I see!

What a shame. Bowe vs Tyson would have been pretty exciting. I love Bowe but I think at that point in his career he was getting hit way too much. You could see the deterioration of his skill even in the Herbie Hide fight.

[brocktonblockbust]

Just rewatched the classic Tyson/Holyfield 1 fight. Couldn't help but wonder why they never put a Bowe/Tyson fight together at that time? Holyfield had been decisively KO'd by Bowe only 2 fights before his megafight with Tyson.

Did Bowe just not have enough public interest? Did Tyson's camp see Holyfield as an easier fight, with Evander having been stopped by Bowe only 2 fights previous?

I wasn't following boxing back then, anyone remember the circumstances as to why Holyfield got the shot?

day be best frıends yo from da hood in crown heights

[Beanflicker]

Broooooklynnnn!!!

[jon09]

Holyfield was considered an easier mark 16 to 1 to be exact over Bowe and a long over due fight at that. With multiple postponements before Tyson went to prison. And it might have eventually happened but Golota took what was left of Bowe and smashed his testes into the ground.

[UmThala]

Tyson was slower, less conditioned and less polished in defense by 1991. He was still an awesome fighter, like Ali after his layoff, Tyson was still a stride ahead of the rest but he wasn't unbeatable, prior to this Douglas had knocked him silly and Bruno was on the verge of stopping him.

Bowe in 1992 was one of the greatest heavyweights I've ever seen, the Riddick Bowe who fought Holyfield for the first time would have given ANY heavyweight in history the toughest fight of their career and would have been probably 80-90% of them. Prior to this fight and after this fight he was never the same, never as dedicated inside or outside the ropes. Bowe in 1992 was a force to be reckoned with.

The first thing to realize about this fight is that if Tyson turned up to the ring in the same condition he was in against Douglas he gets knocked out in under 4 rounds. Say for example Tyson is in the same condition against Bowe he was against Razor Ruddock both times, he's still strong and quick, his defense, accuracy and style isn't at it's peak anymore but it's still good. Regardless I think Bowe takes this one, I think Bowe in '92 beats any era of Tyson. He uses his size and sledgehammer jab to keep Tyson at bay, a less condition Tyson burns himself out early and probably hurts Bowe once or twice, but after he tires the big man piles it on and does to Mike the same thing Lennox did only quicker seeing as Bowe was more aggressive and stronger.

KO7 Riddick Bowe

[BIG H]

Tyson was slower, less conditioned and less polished in defense by 1991. He was still an awesome fighter, like Ali after his layoff, Tyson was still a stride ahead of the rest but he wasn't unbeatable, prior to this Douglas had knocked him silly and Bruno was on the verge of stopping him.

Bowe in 1992 was one of the greatest heavyweights I've ever seen, the Riddick Bowe who fought Holyfield for the first time would have given ANY heavyweight in history the toughest fight of their career and would have been probably 80-90% of them. Prior to this fight and after this fight he was never the same, never as dedicated inside or outside the ropes. Bowe in 1992 was a force to be reckoned with.

The first thing to realize about this fight is that if Tyson turned up to the ring in the same condition he was in against Douglas he gets knocked out in under 4 rounds. Say for example Tyson is in the same condition against Bowe he was against Razor Ruddock both times, he's still strong and quick, his defense, accuracy and style isn't at it's peak anymore but it's still good. Regardless I think Bowe takes this one, I think Bowe in '92 beats any era of Tyson. He uses his size and sledgehammer jab to keep Tyson at bay, a less condition Tyson burns himself out early and probably hurts Bowe once or twice, but after he tires the big man piles it on and does to Mike the same thing Lennox did only quicker seeing as Bowe was more aggressive and stronger.

KO7 Riddick Bowe

Completely agree with your middle paragraph, but not much of the rest. Bruno almost stopping Tyson

[Spicoli]

Cause King liked trinkets and and loved his meal ticket in Mike even more. Tyson himself said he wasn't ready in under a year outta prison and Neuman was dropping Mikes name but as long as they were in a major network contract not named SET it wasn't happening. King didn't want that.

Tyson came out bent on doing what he did the first time around...unify the belts from a lot of trinket warmer champs only this time he and promotion DID have legit top marketable threats in a Bowe or Lewis, and as it turned out a "shot" Holyfield

[El Kabong]

It's a great question and honestly I think it's a pick 'em fight because Bowe never fought a pure power puncher like Tyson and Bowe had all he requirements to toy with Tyson so it's 50/50. Could Bowe handle Tyson's power and speed? Could Mike work around Bowe's height, reach, and athletic ability?

Not many hypothetical fights leave me without picking a surefire winner, but this one comes close. I would only go with Tyson because I feel even though he wasn't "in his prime" he beat better competition more often in the mid 90's....Donovan Ruddock IMO could have beaten Bowe.

[Beanflicker]

Herbie Hide nailed him with someone huge shots and Herbie could definitely punch, but yeah he was more of a blown up cruiserweight.

[El Kabong]

Herbie Hide nailed him with someone huge shots and Herbie could definitely punch, but yeah he was more of a blown up cruiserweight.

That's Bowe vs a pucher....never fought another one again

[Beanflicker]

I'm pretty big on Bowe but its disappointing he ducked Lewis like that.

[El Kabong]

I'm pretty big on Bowe but its disappointing he ducked Lewis like that.

Also Holyfield & Golota floored Bowe so one would assume that Tyson's power would greatly trouble him.

[Master]

Tyson was a shell of a fighter by the time he came out of prison. He was strategically managed to make the maximum amount of money but for minimum amount of risk with the ideal of holding a belt. WBC bent over to accommodate him and effectively screwed Lewis over. Tyson ran over to another trinket by beating Seldon to avoid Lewis as he was not ready (and as it happens never became ready).

Bowe was never allowed to fight for the WBC for throwing it in the bin. Both were washed away by fighters they were expected to beat but did not.

If they did fight after Tyson came out of prison I think Bowe would win just too big and strong. Prime Tyson would land a left hook and knock down and eventually stop prime Bowe (which fought Holyfield)