Hard fight to pick, but one thing about Tyson was that he was brutal to the body when he was prime which is what started the break down of most of the guys he fough and led to him landing to the head. He really couldn't get to Bonecrusher's body to start the head punching since Bonecrusher would grab him on the inside. As for Bowe, Riddick Bowe had a habit of not training properly in many fights, and he was soft to the body as evident by Golota and even Evander softened him up to land to the head in the fan man fight (fight 2). I even remember Biggs wobblings Bowe, which always made me think his chin was suspect a little, but he was big. I think Mike is in a tough fight but he breaks down Bowe and stops him in about 7 or 8. But Bowe was big and if he fought smart he might be able to wear out Mike just on size if he leaned on him and used his sort of pawing jab. I thought in the mid 1980s when Mike became champion, a guy who would have given Mike problems is Tim Witherspoon. Tim was maybe not as consistent as Bowe when Riddick first won his title, but I think he had better power-certainly with the right hand. I think Tim could have beaten Mike like I said if he could use his size and not let Mike get on the inside. I have sort of revised that a little and think maybe Mike would have won, but Tim was big, had a good chin and a great right hand. A looping right and powerful uppercut. That fight in Dec. of 1986 when Tim defended against Bonecrusher was significant since had Tim won, he would have fought Mike in March of 1987 instead of how Bonecrusher fought Mike. A motivated Tim against Mike who was relatively inexperienced then would have been very interesting.
Bowe close but decisive UD Wouldn't be all that surprised by any result, though... edit: 5-10 minutes later, already heavily questioning my pick.
The fighters who had the most success against prime Tyson had the strength to tie him up, while Bowe has the size and strength he does not have the inclination to tie his opponent up on the inside he would stand and trade with Tyson. I think this would be a battle of attrition. Both fighters have great offense, Bowe is easier to hit than Tyson but Bowe has that deadly uppercut which is a key punch in beating Tyson and would allow Bowe to diffuse Tyson's usually impeccable defence. Both have shown heart and taken their beatings without quitting so I don't expect either man to back down. But I favour Tyson in this match up. Bowe will have his success but Tyson is durable enough to ride through the rough patches and KO Bowe. If Holyfield could drop him and Hide could hurt him then a puncher of Tyson's ability should be able to stop Bowe. Bowe is simply too easy to hit he would have taken a lot of shots from Tyson.
Bowe got hit far too much - He was very durable against a relatively average hitting puncher but would not last long at all against someone like Tyson (or Foreman)
I think the key question is would Bowe try to tie him up or trade on the inside. I'd think trading would be more favourable to Tyson but by no means would it be definitive. I'm not sure Bowe could finish Mike but if Tyson hurt him I'd back him to finish. Either way it would have been a great fight.
I'll go with Bowe by close decision, Tyson taking the early rounds, maybe getting a knockdown, Bowe taking the later rounds. Wouldn't be surprised at any result though.
Bowe is a big man who fights on the inside which works well against most opponents but even against them he takes shots just because he is a big target standing close and that would be suicide against Tyson. The stragety to beat Tyson is to clinch as soon as he's close that's how some went the distance who should have been ko'd early but Bowe would try to fight with him from midrange and the inside and it would be suicide Tyson wasn't Holyfield he would seriously hurt Bowe.
I agree. Bowe struggled with larger, skilled opponents, not smaller quick ones as much. Wouldn't be too surprised to see Iron Mike knock him out either, just not as likely as a mid to late rounds KO/TKO by Big Daddy.
