If Mike Tyson hadn't gone to jail 1991 - 1994

[Autobarn]

And that's why the 90's should have surpassed the 70's as the greatest ever heavyweight era.

So many different permutations. I must admit, the more I think about it the more I fancy Tyson in the early 90's over Holy. Lewis? I believe we would have seen the most focused Lewis ever against a young Tyson, I'm sure of it. Look how focused he was for the washed up version.
He struggled when he didnt respect his opponent. See the two losses and Bruno too. Much is made of Manny but he was very much on board for the Rahman debacle.

Bowe - Lewis is the biggest robbery of all for the fans though. As I said before, a possible all time great trilogy there that wasn't had. Lennox suffers the most in all of this. How high would he be ranked all time if he had beat Tyson, Holy and Bowe during that period?

well, we already got an all time great trilogy - holyfield v bowe. there's no 2 heavyweights that matched together better than these 2 at the time or since.

I think bowe lost heart after the frst holyfield fight, anyway. what he put himself through to get the weight off (pre fight many were worried he'd be dehydrated) and then what he put himself through to win...never trained or fought as hard, again.

lewis was always the "who needs him" guy, frosty and reserved and not American. and he made a terrible mistake or 2. but it worked out in the end and he outlasted everyone.

[Tomasino]

I just don't ever see Mike beating Holyfield, at any time. It keeps coming up in the thread. Holy was considered shot when he out manned Mike. He'd have out boxed him when he was in his prime.

[Tuan_Jim]

Neither did Douglas though.

Both Lewis and Bowe were more than talented enough to perform as Douglas did that night in Tokyo.

I can't see what fight you can point to where Lewis or Bowe showed Douglas's complete set of everything.

Lewis couldn't move like Douglas. His movement versus the less threatening Tua is hardly as graceful as Douglas in Tokyo. And he certainly didn't like a fast pace. Douglas was moving & throwing all night. Lewis was gasping versus Mercer and Mavrovic. And Bowe was a man who would eat punches to deliver his own.

I don't see the fight where either Lewis or Bowe ever performed as magnificently as Douglas.