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