Why we didnt see Tyson vs Bowe

Tyson discussing about fighting Riddick Bowe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69Oo1Pa72uM

Riddick Bowe cheering Tyson on at the Tyson/Ruddock weigh in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyki4P3i4Vs

Old Riddick Bowe interview 2008 (mentions fighting Tyson)
http://www.boxinginsider.com/interviews/riddick-bowe-interview/


By Scoop Malinowski
Yes, the former Undisputed world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe took the time out this weekend to answer your e-mail questions. Here is the very latest from perhaps one of the most formidable heavyweight champions in boxing history:

Q-Who is your favourite fighter of All-Time?? BigDaddyBowe

Riddick Bowe: Muhammad Ali. He’s the one who made me want to put on the gloves

Q-If you could compare yourself to one fighter past/present who reminds you of yourself? -BigDaddyBowe

Riddick Bowe: Hmmm….I think maybe Henry Armstrong or Sugar Ray Leonard.

Q- What’s his view of the current heavyweight crop? How about a breakdown of the current belt holders? Mr Jenkins

Riddick Bowe: Well, start with Vitali Klitschko. Start with him. I think he doesn’t have anybody to put any pressure on him. So he does what he wants. He’s big, very strong, he likes to stay in his comfort zone. And by him being in his comfort zone, he beats birds off them boys. The second best would be probably Byrd. I think Byrd’s a good technician. However he doesn’t have a punch like a heavyweight. So he lacks to much by not having that big punch. But he’s a pretty good fighter. Okay. Then that leads us to the Spanish guy, what’s his name (Ruiz). I mean, he’s the luckiest guy in boxing. Because I didn’t see him beating anyone in there really. I felt Golota beat him last time but unfortunately he got the decision. I don’t even know how he got a title (he got it when Kirk JOhnson was DQ in their match for the vacant WBA belt). I think Rahman could beat that Spanish guy with no problem. James Toney – I would put his lights out. James Toney is disrespectful and I would like to fight that guy once I get my swagger back.

Q-If Riddick succesfully continues his comeback and gets back to the top, Lennox Lewis suggested he might come out of retirement as well. If this were to happen, would you finally fight him? Mr Jenkins

Riddick Bowe: Oh listen, I would jump on him like white on…I mean, man, please that would be my dream come true. (You’d be on him like white on bread?) What you talkin bout? I’d be on him like white on rice.

Q – Which belt holder is he aiming at? Don’t tell me any of them or all of them. There’s gotta be one in particular that he thinks he can have an easier time with than the others.

Riddick Bowe: Well, I mean, my thing is Vitali Klitschko. In 14 months I’ll be ready to fight Vitali Klitschko.

Q-In prior interviews you’ve stated that weight isn’t really a big issue.
Do you see yourself getting into better form as bigger fights unfold or is this really not a big issue?-BigDaddyBowe

Riddick Bowe: I would love to be in better form. Of course we’re concerned with weight. My weight now is 270. 250-245 should be good for me. The mistake I made in the past was trying to take weight off too fast. So what I’m doing now is just taking it off gradually. So I can stay strong.

Q-Your friends, are they supporting you in your conquest to regain the HW Championship? -BigDaddyBowe

Riddick Bowe: My man, I don’t know what you speak of. The only friend that I have is my wife (Kerry). My friends all disappeared when Rock Newman disappeared. I guess he had all his people around me, so why can I expect them to be my friends because they’re not. They never call on me or check on me or anything. So they’re not my buddies.

Q-How does it feel to be interviewed by BoxingInsider, Home of your Greatest fan. I have goosebumps. -BigDaddyBowe

Riddick Bowe: I mean, for me, it makes me feel great to know that people are anxious to see me fight again or are thrilled to hear from me. (So you have a lot of diehards out there like this guy Bigdaddybowe?) Oh, absolutely, these are the people that make me want to continue to do what I’m doing. (Tyson has a fan from Manchester, England who has Tyson tattoos all over his body with a full portrait on his back and his full ring record down each arm. I mean this guy loves Tyson. Do you have any fans like that? Did you meet any like that?) None that I know of so far. Maybe this guy you’re talking about (bigdaddybowe) maybe he can get a tattoo of me put on his back.

Q- When will you be ready for the top level heavyweights?

Riddick Bowe: Well, if you give me about 14 months, I should be ready for the top level by then. See, I want to be clear on this thing, I’m taking fights here and there just so I can get my swagger back, get my weight down. Then, once I get sharper and my weight down and I’m feeling good, then it’s time to take on the big boys.

Q – How long did it take for your balls to recover?

Riddick Bowe: They’re still healin, they’re still healin.

Q – As poorly as he is doing, should Holyfield be allowed to fight?

Riddick Bowe: Well, that’s a (inaudible) question because a lot of people say I shouldn’t fight. However I think Evander Holyfield is a great fighter and unfortunately for him I thik the only thing that he might knock out is his legacy. And I’d hate to see him mess his legacy up.

Q – Why was he scared of Tyson and why was he scared of Lewis? -TysonKo49-4-0

Riddick Bowe: Why was I scared??? I was never scared of Mike Tyson or
Lennox Lewis. Mike and I just agreed not to fight each other, the fact that we were from the same neighborhood. But I will fight chicken**** any time any place.

Boxinginsider.com: What’s the latest on you getting your Tennessee boxing license?

Riddick Bowe: “They’re givin’ me a hard time about getting my license in Tennessee. They don’t have any grounds, I have all my medicals and everything. I want the public to know these people are trying to screw me by not giving me my license like they should.”

Boxinginsider.com: What’s the reason for their resistance? What do you think is going on here?

Riddick Bowe: “I think Rock Newman had a lot of influence. I think he called the Tennessee Commission and asked them not to give me a license.”

Boxinginsider.com: I don’t understand, what would be the motivation for Rock Newman to put up a roadblock against you?

Riddick Bowe: Who the hell knows. That’s the million dollar question, why he is giving me a hard time. I don’t bother the man, I let him do whatever he needs to do. So why bother me? Why give me such a hard time? That’s the multi-million dollar question. Why does he give me such a hard time?

Boxinginsider.com: Revenge of some sort could it be?

Riddick Bowe: Well, my thing is, Rock told a lot of people I could never do nothing without him. Maybe that’s why. I don’t know. Maybe he’s jealous. You have to ask him. I’m 100% sound. I took several physicals, so why deny me my license? As a matter of fact, Tennessee is one of the easiest states to get a license in. SO why give me a hard time? I don’t have an extensive criminal record like Mike Tyson. I don’t bite people’s heads off. I don’t have behavioral problems. You know what I mean? So explain that to me, why are they giving me such a hard time?

Boxinginsider.com: You have a $5,000,000 waiting for you too?

Riddick Bowe: “Yeah, I have endorsements from Fed Ex and those type of corporations. You got Fed Ex and two more – I forget what they are, there’s two more in Tennessee but it goes up to $5,000,000, actually $7,000,000.”

Boxinginsider.com: They’re ready to sponsor your next fight?

Riddick Bowe: “Yeah, but they won’t sponsor, won’t do nothing unless I get licensed there. He knows it, so therefore he’s making sure the commission there won’t give me a license. They wouldn’t even give me a hearing face to face. What type of message is that. You understand?”

Boxinginsider.com: Yeah. I saw you at the Golota-Ruiz fight in NYC and we briefly talked and you looked good and sounded as good as ever. This all does sound a little strange.

Riddick Bowe: “And I’m okay too. And I have all my medicals. I don’t understand it. You know, I’m trying to get myself back in order. I don’t want to give nobody a hard time. I don’t want to get in any more trouble. I’m just trying to make a living, doing what I’m doing. Is Rock Newman going to pay my bills? Or do I have to take him to court? They’re holding me up. Costing me money. I ain’t got time for all these trials and tribulations. Just let me do what I do.”

 

I thought id show both sides of the story, in case someone felt Tyson was ducking Bowe.

both men admitted they didnt want to fight each other.

However, i feel had Tyson got past Holyfied and Bowe got past Golota, they would have fought in 97-98, there was too much money to be made.

Have you checked out my two newest threads? Byrd and Bowe question Tysons legacy and Bowe calls out Tyson

 

I think Byrd was forgetting that one of his best wins was a 40+ year old Holyfield.....a former cruiserweight, same with Bowe.

As for Byrd talking about eras and then pointing at Bowe.

Bowe fought in the second best era of heavyweights, but he 'missed' out on way too many of them.

Bowe fought two relevant heavyweights from the 90s Holyfield and Golota.
Tyson fought Stewart, Ruddock x2, Bruno, Holyfield, Botha, Golota.

 

I was just going to start a thread on that! :good

Alot of people rank Bowe highly because of his Holyfield wins, but 2 wins dont make a legacy.

Outside of that Tyson destroyed all mutual opposition much better than Bowe.

Seldon, Biggs, Tubbs, Mathis, Golota and someone like Hide would not have gone 6 rounds with any decent version of Tyson

 

Hide was a c level fighter,

I cant see any way Hide would go more than 1-2 rounds max with any pre 97 Tyson

 

Its not a coincidence that Bowe missed all the punchers from his era, same as Frazier did 2 decades before, and is it a coincidence both were trained by the same guy?

I used to be a fan of Bowe but now feel he is overrated.

Hes only mentioned because he beat Holyfield same as Norton is known for beating Ali and taking Holmes to the wire.

 

Right, so what's Riddick Bowes excuse?

Or did you struggle to read that part?

 

atsch

Did you go to school?