Tyson - Bowe in 1996 - who wins?

Bowe, probably.
Yes, Bowe was "shot" based on the Golota fights.
But Holyfield was "shot" too, remember. But still battered Tyson.


(On a tangent : I think the real question about the Bowe-Golota fights, is how much did they take out of Golota ?
People always concentrate on how bad Bowe looked in the fights, but maybe Golota was never the same after them.)

 

Yeah the heart valve thing was unfortunate (I love Evander but maybe too much HGH, I think there was a heart doctor at the time in 94 that encouraged retirement).

That whole heavyweight period should have been even better than it was if, if, if -
1. Tyson doens't go to jail + stays hungry
2. Bowe fights more frequently to stay active and not put on so much weight between fights.
3. Evander stays healthy (heart valve in 94, hepatitis in 95)
4. Lennox gets big fights earlier

We could've ended up with fights like this -
1991 -
Tyson/Holyfield - no rib injury so that fight goes off as originally planned
I always imagine this as a much better version of the 96 fight.
Holyfield with a much busier workrate than in 96
Tyson still had a body attack in 91
Tyson would've been in great shape knowing he's gunning for the title (whereas he took Evander lightly in 96 and didn't train as hard as he should have)
Evander trying to prove he's the legit heavyweight champ
Would have been amazing, my favorite all time what if fight.
I suspect Holyfield would win an incredible fight either by late TKO or on the cards. Maybe Tyson takes a year off to recharge the batteries.

1992 -
Holyfield fights Holmes (same)
Bowe/Holyfield I (same, don't want to mess with a classic)

1993 -
Tyson comesback and starts fighting again.
Bowe/Lewis I in March
Bowe/Holyfield II (same)

1994 -
Don King announces a heavyweight tournament, ala 1974
Holyfield/Lewis I in March
Bowe/Tyson I in May
Winners fight in November (I'd pick Holyfield/Tyson to emerge)

1995 -
Bowe/Lewis II
Bowe/Holyfield III (no hepatitis)

1996 -
Bowe/Lewis III
Bowe then retires
Tyson/Lewis I
etc.

It would've have been so much easier to sort that era out......plus even better there would have been some classic prime/near prime fights in there.
Bummer we really only got Bowe/Holyfield I and II in terms of fights that happened prime/prime.