In a battle between the two, I'm talking both prime, would Bowe fighting the way he did be actual suicide against a guy like Tyson?
To be honest - I don't know, I'm not that knowledgeable about boxing. I can try and favor Bowe (Holyfield 1). Bowe (Holyfield 1) is a different kind of beast. Because Bowe (Holyfield 1) is H2H over 1988 Holmes and 1988 Spinks. But is it above 1988 Tyson...I'm going with Bowe (Holyfield 1).
This is genuinely baffling logic. By that reasoning, anyone you rate above the 1988 versions of Holmes and Spinks automatically beats Tyson. That would mean even the 1986 version of Spinks beats Tyson simply because he’s better than his 1988 self.
This looks to me like you "put your words in my mouth" (with all due respect). I immediately distanced myself: And concretely I think that even in 1996 Tyson would beat any HW version of Spinks.
I think Tyson would not miss with punches 2/3/4. And Bowe is right in front of him. Also think that Bowe defense is an ideal opening for mike's wide right hand to the body followed by that right uppercut. I don't think he'd miss. And I sure do not think Riddick Bowe can absorb Mike Tyson punches, regardless of what he lands.
The big flipside in this fight is that Bowe would not run away from Tyson or bottle up, he'd throw some bombs back at Tyson. Clamming and/or running away up is the best way to get owned by Tyson. He gets that forward momentum and smashes you. Bowe has the size, power and intentions to halt that forward progress at various times. He'd also give Tyson problems in close when he just stands there hoping for the ref to call break. If Bowe goes in there and gets some big blows in early we'd have a real fight on our hands. He'd also have to play the bully and try and manhandle Tyson inside, punish him, put doubts in his mind and hurt on his face. So much is dependant on how well Bowe ships Tyson's bombs. Peak Bowe had Eddie Futch guiding him so you know he's coming in with all the right idea's. Can Bowe take it?
Prime for prime I'm taking Tyson. Honestly, the only window that I like Bowe over Tyson is the early 90's. After the third Holyfield fight, I believe Bowe was seriously suffering in the early stages CTE. That's why I don't think much of the Golota performances against Bowe. Bowe could not get out of the way of any of Golota's punches and was virtually a defenseless fighter. Tyson wasn't he same guy either at that point but he still could punch and that's bad news for a shot Bowe. You only need to listen to Bowe speak today to see how badly compromised he was at the end of his career. He should never have fought again after the third Holyfield fight.
Two fighters who burned incandescently brightly but infinitesimally briefly. I'll go against the crowd here and say that Bowe's infighting, power and sheer doggedness makes this 6 round war a battle of attrition that sees Bowe's hand raised over a slumped Tyson at the end of halfway. The bigger Bowe can fight at a tremendous pace over 12 but Mike can only do so in bursts. Bowe times Mike, pulls him in closer than he wants to be and in so doing smothers a lot of his power shots, he controls Mikes head by dirty inside fighting and lands uppercuts and hooks again and again dettering Tyson as the fight goes on. Absolute banger this, a phone box heavyweight Hagler Hearns whilst it lasts. Both men will be rocked but Bowe wins this
I think Tyson would punish Bowe. Bowe didn't use lateral movement and had poor defense. He would have to push Mike back to do anything. He was big and strong so it's possible but I forsee Tyson slipping the jab and catching Bowe on the way in. Bowe was able to overpower and destroy Bert Cooper but it would be much harder to do this against prime Tyson
Bowe liked beating up the little guys but Tyson is the biggest little guy he could have found. Given how Golota masterfully managed to slip Bowe's big whooshing punches and how easy Bowe was to hit himself, I'm leaning to Tyson winning, while still acknowledging that Bowe was a huge guy who could ship a lot of punishment. Bowe could still win this.
Bowe was never Willie Pep defensively, but a lot of the punches Golota landed are shots he would have easily avoided a few years earlier.
I still lean toward Tyson because Bowe's defense against a puncher with Tyson's power and accuracy sounds like a dangerous combination. That said, you both raise some compelling arguments for Bowe, particularly his outstanding inside work and Tyson's comparative shortcomings in that area.