The Bowe/Holyfield/Lewis/Tyson Era: When Did It Start, When Did It Finish?

Although the crux of this era was the 1990s, is it fair to say that this second golden era for heavyweights was inaugurated with Tyson-Spinks in 1988 and capped off by Lewis-Klitschko in 2003? Further, what were some of the biggest wars of this era: we got Lewis-Tyson very late ('02).

 

@Bujia

 

That wasn't a war, that was borderline torture.

 

The Tyson era started it roughly in 1986. Tyson got his first crack at a title and proceeded to curbstomp the division until 1990. Tyson had one war, which he lost, Buster Douglas.

Holyfield took the Title from Douglas in late 90, went to war with Bowe losing the titles then gaining them back in 1992-1993 Holyfield then lost them to Moore.

Lennox came around late but was dominant from 1997-2003. Lennox had no wars but was robbed against Holyfield in their first fight (was declared a draw).

 

Holyfield beat Douglas in 1990.

 

Cheers... was just recalling off the top of my head. Edited the correction in.

 

The 90s was the heavyweight golden era

 

For me, it started in 86, with Tyson v Berbick and ended with Lewis v Tyson.

 

Lennox had a war with Mercer

 

I'd say the Tyson era started when Tyson was on the come up, he was massively hyped going into the Berbick fight, and people were still believing it all the way up until Lewis.

Lewis vs Vitali was the sign of an era's end. Holyfield was still kicking about, but mostly just beating up cans and losing to mid-tier titlists who he'd have destroyed when he was younger.

For wars? Watch basically anything from Bowe, Holyfield Morrison and Cooper.

Then Lewis vs a few guys.

 

"Tyson & Holyfield Era" was 1986-'92
"Bowe & Lewis Era" started 1992 but both of them faltered. Lewis managed to pick up again 1997-2003.

 

-Tyson era: November 86-February 90

-90s heavyweight era (Holyfield/Bowe/Tyson/Lewis):
October 90 - November 99

 

So do you feel as though the Holyfield/Bowe/Tyson/Lewis era can only be covered during the 90s decade? Can we include Lennox's defenses from the early 2000s?

 

@Jel Is this really only a subjective matter insofar as one can include Lennox-Vitali part of this era of they made an argument for it?

 

Bowe/Holyfield/Lewis/Tyson era IMO started with Tyson losing to Douglas in 90, that opened the door for Holyfield to take over and his rivalry with Tyson to start even though they didn't fight until 96, 1990 as well Lewis and Bowe were working their way up the rankings.

For me that era unofficially ended in 1997 when Tyson got DQ'ed during the Holyfield, then banned returning 18 months later a shell of the fighter he was even in 96. Riddick Bowe by mid 1997 was a shot fighter, think he retired after the second Golota fight.

Official end was Lewis retired after TKO'ing Vitali in 2003.