Prime for prime. At their best both were polished superheavies with great jabs and solid chins. Ive seen more of Bowe and don't know much of Tucker's brawling if any. Both guys very tough to stop, so discuss.
Good match. Most will instinctively go with Bowe but I give Tucker a good shot in this fight. Shame Tucker didn't challenge himself more against quality opposition.
What big skilled opponent did Bowe ever beat in solid fashion? He beat Holy and I think Holy is great so I understand that point. What I don't understand is why so many think so much of Bowe when he has no outstanding fights against anyone other than a smaller Holy. Golota was not outstanding. He was big and could box decently. He gave Bowe such problems over the course of two fights it was shocking. Ok rant time, in my opinion Bowes jab was just OK, however, in my opinion Bowe's jab looked the best of all jabs. He threw it like a rap artist belts out a catchy phrase. Seriously, I think Lewis's jab was hands down better and far more effective than Bowes jab, but I still think Bowes jab looked better, he chucked it like a gun slinger, much like Ali, in that way where it would come out of nowhere. The thing is Ali could REALLY use his Jab, Bowe couldn't, it was beautiful but it wasn't that effective in my opinion. Thus I think he gets over rated on how fluid and pretty his jab and mechanics were when his resume shows me only 3 great fights with one specific champ for his legacy.
Prime for prime Bowe was just a better all around fighter PERIOD:deal Bowe was never stopped, Tucker was stopped 3x.. For what it's worth Bowe ko'd Hide, and Hide ko'd Tucker.. Even John Ruiz Knocked out Tucker:deal Tucker is as over-rated as hell on this site:-( Bowe comfortable UD...
Bowe too busy in there for that stuck in 2nd gear style of Tucker. I sure would have liked to have seen Tucker find the accelarator pedal. He just didn't seem to know where it was. Bowe's volume punching--and fouling--would definately have Tony out of his comfort zone.
Depends on how Tucker shows up to fight. He was often on the defensive, didn't risk much and played it safe. You can't win a decision or even a stoppage against a man like Bowe unless you are willing to take some chances and put the work in. If he goes out there and boxes a "smart" fight, he might win it on the cards. But probably not an outcome I'd favor to happen. Tony never really defeated a "true" world class fighter. Douglas, McCall, Norris, and Broad were all basically fringe level at the time he fought them. Buster's status only rose years later due to his win over Tyson, but he wasn't thought of as much in 1987. The edge goes to Bowe for me.
McCall was world class. His resume is better than Tucker's and barely worse than Bowe's, if that. Douglas also showed up in good form against Tucker.
Neither of those guys were world class at that time though.. McCall was a journeyman who's only win of note was against Bruce Seldon. I was being kind by calling him fringe. Douglas had only beaten declining versions of Page and Cobb while losing to the likes of Ferguson, White and Bey.. Most rating factions had him low on their list with the exception of the IBF who Don king was in bed with and set up the IBF elimination match so that the winner could be easy pickings for Tyson.. Neither Douglas nor Tucker deserved to be ranked #1 and #2.. And Tony struggled mightily in both of those fights. He barely took a decision against Oliver that could have gone either way, while losing for most of the evening against Douglas until James finally broke down late in the fight.. Tucker was good but he's not in Rid**** Bowe's class.
I think Bowe would win a decision. He would make the fight and be a bit busier. I think Tucker had the chin to stand and fight and possibly hurt Bowe, but Tucker never fought that way in his prime. He would move, probably too much, and hold and try to break Rid****'s rhythm. Bowe by UD
Exactly.. When outmatched, Tony fought to "survive".... Not "win." I have no doubt that he could take Bowe to the cards in a 12 round fight and perhaps even steal 2 or 3 rounds in the process. But he's not pressing the action enough to win a decision or get Bowe in any serious trouble.
I think if these two met in their primes Tucker gives Bowe a very tough challenge. I think it would be competitive from start to finish and Bowe would just eek out a decision.
bowe would smash him like jorge louis gonzales.tucker was a little better than gonzales, but bowe brings a lot of pressure and would stop tucker mid or late rounds.
