Tyson vs Bowe in the 1990's would have been a very significant legacy altering type of match for both men. Bowe's camp wanted the match badly before Tyson went to prison, and after he came out of prison. Question #1 ) Who would you pick to win the match? Question #2 ) How much does the winner move up and the loser move down in terms of legacy and ranking?
It depends. Bowe's prime was extremely brief, some people even say his first win over Holyfield was his prime & thereafter he wasn't the same. Tyson was not the fighter he once was, but at displayed against Bruno, he was still sharp, powerful, quick, & in condition. Bowe's best bet would be to work all off the jab, keep it at distance. Granted, Bowe was a very competent inside fighter for a big man, but Tyson would rip the body & rip uppercuts on the inside. Bowe would no doubt lean on Tyson in the hope of weakening him. However, I'm still going to pick Tyson! There's no way an unmotivated, out of shape Bowe could expect to beat the Tyson, that say, beat Frank Bruno in March 1996! Yes, I know, Bowe is a different proposition to Bruno, but turning up not well conditioned to face Tyson would be taking the ****! Tyson would surely employ going to the body tactics?
Bowe because I think Tyson was already faded in the 90s. The bowe that fought Holyfield was a force to be reckoned with. I don't know. Hard fight to analyze because both fighters are so inconsistent.
i think the 91 tyson probably would have won but the post prison version gets stopped late in just the same way as the ist holyfield fight
I feel that the Tyson who beat Ruddock had enough left to beat Bowe. Bowe was too hittable IMO and this Tyson still could go 12 at a decent pace. I'm not altogether sure, though, since Bowe's great offensive tools at mid and close range sure would ask questions of Tyson. Very interesting match-up. If they met in '95, before Bowe's rubber match with Holy, I think Bowe would have enough left to beat a rusty Tyson. The version of Bowe who fought Golota against the Tyson who fought Holyfield is a different matter, though. Here I would perhaps have Tyson as the slight favourite.
Absolute peak Bowe of 1992 (Holyfield I ) gets a close UD over 1991 Tyson. But I favour 1991 Tyson over every other version of Bowe. In 1995 I think Bowe (Holyfield III ) beats Tyson by late TKO. However I favour all pre-2001 versions of Tyson to beat any Bowe of 1996 onwards.
I will go with Bowe here, early 90's so I am using the 92 Bowe that beat Holyfield or even the one that lost to Holyfield in the rematch. Either way I like Bowe in this fight, he had a good jab, he could fight well on the inside he was bigger and stronger then Mike here and he had Futch. And he listened to Futch here, Bowe building that kitchen in his bed room was his down fall. I still remember before the 2nd Holyfield fight when Merchant was telling the audience about Bowes new house, once he said bed room with a kitchen in it I knew Bowe had gotten a little to comfortable lol.. Bowe did have a short prime, but he was real good in the early 90's. I see Bowe and Tyson getting in some heavy exchanges early in the fight and Bowe might even hit the deck. But as the fight gets late I look for Bowe to start to wear Tyson out and then take him out, Bowe tko10
if tyson didnt go to jail tyson/bowe would be in 92........... bowe defence was **** poor especially against light hitting pieere coetzer.........bowe got hit way to much...........bowe looped his right hand(unlike lewis who threw it straight).........bowe was a good inside fighter but against tyson it would not work for him(tyson beat the fuk outta ruddock on the inside)........bowe gets knocked out in this one..........TYSON VIA TKO IN 9 RDS..........:good:good:good:good:good:good
