True, youve got a point. I currently rank tyson Just under Lewis, even though theyre careers were very similar. Tysons stint in prison really messes it up for him unfortunately [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmF33npl3I8[/ame]
Bowe ducked Ruddock before he ducked Lewis - He would still duck Ruddock whether Holyfield existed or not!
This is an interesting thought, so much went on not only after Holyfield won the title but before as well, let us not forget Holyfield had some impressive heads on his resume who more then likely may had made their way to Tyson had Holyfield not fought them first on his way.. Take Dokes for example looks at how well he fought in his war with Holyfield so he had plenty left at this point and would have either beaten possibly one of these young lions if not gotten a shot a Tyson on his own being that he was a former champion and a name.. Alex Stewart an unbeaten fighter with an impressive KO record who was cut down by Evander early may have also been a player, though his chin and soft skin may have not taken him far... I see Tyson beating Douglas and taking the title back and then having a war with Ruddock which in turn makes Ruddock what he became a feared puncher that many thought may take the title when Tyson went into the Clink... I think if Bowe would decide to sack up and fight Lennox early then he would have a great chance to beat him, but if history in this dimension was as it was in ours then he would wait and either ultimately be beaten by the more polished Lewis of later after a decent run or succumb to someone earlier.. Mercer was mean and rugged and I think if he came to fight could push Bowe.. Lennox would be in danger of also being clipped as well..
Bowe ducked Ruddock, to fight Evander Holyfield? Bowe would have beat the **** out of Ruddock. It would have been similar to the Tyson/Ruddock fights, but Bowe wouldnt have the size disadvantage Tyson had
I am also not sold on the fact that Tyson beats Bowe in 96 with no Holyfield here.. Bowe will still have more left not having had those 3 wars with Holyfield... We know Bowe had a solid chin and a truck load of guts, he was beaten pillar to post by Golota and was still there so no guarantee that Tyson beats him imo.. Lennox though after a few years would more then likely settle in as the best of the bunch..
Ruddock would have had a punchers chance, Bowe was open for a left hook, see the Holyfield hook in fight 3 and Tyrell Biggs shook him up a little with again a left hook, but even though I am a HUGE Ruddock fan I think Bowe would beat him.. I know Bowe and Ruddock sparred together early in there careers I belive Bowe was in the Ruddock camp when razor faced Bonecrusher.. I watched both guys in there primes and would kill for either on the scene today!!
Before Tysons prison stint, there was Cooper, Foreman, Douglas and Maybe Bowe. Tyson would beat Douglas in the rematch, he would beat the **** out of Foreman and Bowe in 91 would have been a very dangerous fight. I see Tyson taking Dokes out sooner or later. Tyson did beat Stewart in the first? I was trying to find some info on why Bowe/Mercer never fought, apparently Bowe thought Mercer was scared of him. I see be Bowe beating the limited Mercer to be honest. Bowe/Lewis 91-96 is the question (Before Tyson ies released)
There is that big question mark over Bowes chin, in an era of huge punchers, he didnt fight a single one. If Bowe could get past Ruddocks left (which i love too) Bowe has a chance, against the limited Ruddock Whats interesting is Ruddock beat Lewis in the amateurs and Holyfield apparently used to beat up Bowe in Sparring. Tyson sparred Holyfield, Lewis and Bruno before he turned pro. Theres also a video of Holmes sparring Ruddock on youtube.
Not sure how to quote multiple threads but I know Tyson beat Stewart in one but what I was saying was with that record he may have factored in at an earlier point rather then Tyson's second comeback win after the loss to Douglas.. I actually have that Ruddock-Holmes sparring session on good old VHS (lol) along with about a billion other old tapes.. I taped fights way back in the early days of the VCR so I have a MASSIVE collection.. Bowe was actually going to give Mercer a shot but Ray went and lost to Jessie Ferguson who in turn got the shot.. There were so many guys in the 90's who were touted as contenders hell I remember when Alex Garcia was a top 5 Heavyweight until Mike Dixon bounced a hook off his head..
Stewart came in **** scared of Tyson. And this was a Tyson who had been 'exposed' by Douglas, i dont see him faring any better against an undefeated Tyson Mercer lost to Jesse Ferguson who was stopped by Tyson. Asides from Bowes win over Holyfield, the rest of his wins seem to be Tyson leftovers like Biggs, Tubbs etc. The 90s was a very interesting era indeed. Outside the top 4, you had a great second tier of fighters who all put both great and bad performances, they were very inconsistent. You had Ruddock who went to war with Tyson twice, only to get sparked by Lewis in 2. You had Morrison who beat Foreman, only to fall to Mercer. Mercer got schooled against Holmes, but put on a decent effort against Hlyfield and Lewis. Bruno who looked good against Lewis, only to **** his pants against Tyson. Moorer who beat Holyfield but then looked like a fool against Foreman. Golota who gave Bowe 2 tough fights, only to get his ass handed to him by Lewis and Tyson. I think the 90s were better than the 70s, but the matches werent really made which ruined it. At least in the 70s Foreman, Frazier etc were all in their primes and Ali was still good enough and they put on good bouts 90s you had Lewis who was avoided, Tyson spent 4 of those years in prison and Bowe faded away very quickly.