donovan ruddock of 1991 v mike tyson of 1996 ?

I don't think Ruddock's chin was any better than Bowe's. His heart was no bigger.
If 1996 Tyson loses to Ruddock, he ought to lose to 1996 Bowe surely.

 

Agreed. And I think Bowe was a fighter they planned to steer clear of when Mike came back in 95.

 

IMO it was more holyfield and golota's failure to finish that bowe survived the holyfield and the first golota 2 KD's than bowe clawing himself into the fight. tyson would have finished him. Lewis douglas holyfield none of them won by fighting back when hurt. Against tyson you have to survive when hurt and then go back to beating him up which is what douglas did. Lewis didnt get hurt at all and holyfield had SUPERB defense in that fight and really took over when tyson tired.

 

Bowe was more hittable because ruddock would be in a shell half the time, then fire his punches and shell up again, ruddock recovered very quickly as well, bowe was so out of it for so long in the 3rd fight with holyfield and the second fight with golota it was worrying. His heart would get him hurt. If tyson lands the overhand right he landed on golota bowe is done for.

 

Tyson had 1991 Ruddock in trouble and couldn't finish him. At times he had an aged Holyfield in trouble and couldn't finish him. He also couldn't put away Tucker and Smith despite having 12 rounds to do it and that was when Mike was at his peak. That's not to say that it couldn't happen, but I don't see how the 1996 diminished version of Tyson is going to go out there and do to an even more durable opponent what he couldn't do against a lesser one.

 

Tucker is certainly not lesser than 1996 bowe and smith didnt even try to win. I also believe the reason bowe lasted so long against golota was because golota was having panic attacks throughout the fight when he had bowe against the ropes. But credit to bowe for not quitting.
I dont think holyfield was ever in danger of being finished off by tyson.
I think there is a very real possibility that tyson could end the fight with one punch regardless of bowe's heart. If holyfield and golota had him in a state with one punch in which tyson would have finished bowe, then tyson can definitely put bowe OUT with one shot.
we're going to have to agree to disagree.
But 1996 tyson iis certainly not beating the ruddock he fought in 91 thats for sure

 

There might have been the manufacturing of a beast story line going but at least Tyson had some substance to go with it, whereas in 96 its all he lived off. Although to be fair his speed and power were still dangerous for a few rounds which is why I still give Holyflield a lot of credibility for that win.

I think his story was also a by product of what he was as well, without the talent and reputation of destroying fighters there is no story or even a myth. He had his frustrations but he never left the confines of what the sport is about, which he did post prison. He could put on a disciplined points win like the one he did against Tucker. Instead of being discouraged at not taking Tucker out early he settled for a points win. we never really saw him take that disciplined approach further.

I agree he was ruled by emotion, I agree especially in terms of strength and weakness. He couldn't be one without the other. as a totally disciplined controlled fighter we wouldn't have had the exciting performances and memorable reign I don't think, but in later life this wrecked him, he couldn't hold it together which will always be a mark on his legacy. These days I see Tyson as one of the top five exciting fighters of all time, rather than the best.

with Ruddock, although he couldn't put on a sustained game plan type beating I think some of those combinations he was throwing in the 91 fights might have been enough, he had those bursts of activity and I think that would have broken down a 96 version of Tyson until one attack finished him.

with Tyson Holyfield I do always find it hard to see how Mike would overcome Evander's strong mentality, I can just imagine Holy not giving an inch. The only way I see a Tyson win is if the then smaller Holyfield cant really hurt him and his own power becomes too much later in the fight. I see a long war of a fight either way.

 

And there's a very real possibility he doesn't beat 1996 Bowe either or at least not by stoppage. The other thing you're overlooking in the Golata fights is that Andrew systematically hit him below the belt which takes a lot out of a guy over time.

 

He started low blowing him after the first knockdown where he almost had him out which i was referring to.
Yes it is a possibility but i still pick the tyson who fought holyfield over the bowe that fought golota especially if he showed up in the physical shape of the second holy fight. But thats just my opinion. Remember we arent talking about the best bowe here

 

Tyson by decision, closer but still clear. Ruddock would probably come on at the end and make it tighter.

 

Don King tried to make Tyson v Ruddock 111 around this time apparently. Tyson's obviously worse than 1991 & doesn't react well to being hit, but Ruddocks totally shot now also so I see a similar fight to Bruno 2 with the same outcome.

 

The name Tyson still resonates much more than a Mercer or Moorer.

Infact, Holyfield has stated numerous times, Tyson was the man to beat, he was determined to beat Tyson.

He was huffing and puffing from round 4 onwards. The commentators mentioned this themselves and even asked Holyfield after the fight to which he responds by talking about the holy spirit or something.

 

Yes, Tyson and Holyfield were of the exact same era. So, for Holyfield, he was always the man to beat, the man to aim at.

Sure, but he was getting hit and bulled around and mauled a lot more than was usual. That'll knock something out of you.
In reality, after 4 rounds at his absolute best, Tyson was generally slowing down noticeably, settling into a slower pace, resting in clinches, using a grinding style, even coasting a few rounds. But almost always his opponents had gotten the worse of it early so he wasn't in bad shape, they were, mentally and physically.