Bowe was on the way up and Tubbs was on the way down yet Tubbs gave Bowe all he could handle and many thought he shoulda got the nod close fight but i thought Bowe pulled it out in the last 2 rounds.
I haven't seen this fight since it happened 1991, therefore I remember very little about it. But I do recall Tubbs looking better than he had in years. He was definately in better shape for the Bowe fight than he was for Tyson despite being about 3 years older. Bowe if I recall, probably deserved the decision, but only marginally. The fight could have just as easily been ruled a draw, but such an outcome probably would have pissed people off more, and anyway, A Tubbs-Bowe rematch wouldn't have done much for boxing. This was a learning experience for a green Riddick, and I think he benefitted from Tony's teachings quite well. Holmes was launching his comeback right about the time this fight happened. I remember him saying that based on Riddick's performance against Tubbs, that he ( larry )could beat him.
Tubbs probably would've beaten Larry if they had fought at the time. Tubbs was pretty quick and slippery, and he knew how to use those angles very well. He just didn't have enough power to make a guy like Bowe respect him. I think Bowe probably did enough to win the fight; he was the aggressor, and he was the guy forcing the fight. But if Tubbs had won the fight I wouldn't have been upset.
Holmes actually thought that it was BOWE he could beat after watching them fight. Of course, name one fighter who Larry admits would have kicked his ass. I can't think of one.
Bowe v Tubbs was a fight that almost everyone at the time thought Tony deserved a peice of, Riddick couldn't get anything going and Tony got off first with the jab all night.. It was a very even fight...
I posted a thread with the fight in it a few months ago. I had Bowe a clear winner. Tubbs didnt do much and Bowe could of done more but won easily.
I dont think bowe was exposed here, but he did lose this fight. boxing ilustrated and KO magazine had tubbs winning also. It was his step up fight against a negative opponent with more experience at that level. There was no shame in the performance it was just bowes "doug jones" fight. a difficult close fight open to interpretation. Lewis had mercer, patterson had maxim, tyson had tillis, marciano had lastarza, joe louis had pastor. All these champions were beter than their rivals in those matchups but made to look human stepping up a level during the development stage.. I think bowe proved he was the beter fighter in the first round then went to sleep. the rounds after this were all quiet rounds and both were ineffective in their own way. Tubbs not wasting much but Landing more -without making any impresion and bowe stalking but missing. I coulndt give bowe more than 4 rounds. I do think going to sleep in fights was something of a running theme in bowes career. A small fault that held him back just a tad.
I still do this day cant see how anyone could give Tubbs that fight let alone a draw. Tubbs doesnt even think he won.
I just watched this fight and thought Tubbs easily could of gotten the decision. The announcers were a joke. Dan Dierdorf is clueless lol. I scored it 6-4 Tubbs but can also see a 5-5 draw. Tubbs parries Bowe's jab all night long and slips Bowe's right with ease. To be fair to Bowe he pressed the action, was the aggressor and clearly ups the pedal and wins the last two rounds. However after round 1, which Bowe won big I felt Tubbs put on a clinic for most of the fight. Had Tubbs been in shape and fired just one or two combinations more per round he wins easy. His lack of condition cost him, he had to fight spoiler bout like a Jimmy Young and Bowe was the hot prospect. If neither fighter was a known commodity I have a hard time giving Bowe 6 rounds for the win. Riddick was young and green and would improve but he may have deserved a blemish on the record here.
The fact that most posters are split over who won, proves it was an extremely close fight, that could have been scored a draw, and most would be comfortable with that.... I remember watching this way back in the day and i thought Tubbs, did enough to get the nod, but it went to Bowe, so it is what it is....
