BoxRec

Bowe had beat Holyfield in their third fight and was the #1 ranked heavyweight in Ring magazine in March 96.
Tyson was ranked # 2 with Lewis at #3.

If Rock Nuemann could have done business with Don King, how would, in your opinion, a Bowe - Tyson fight panned out in, say, July 96 with the winner to face Lennox in the November

If to match Bowe of the 3rd Holyfield bout against Tyson of that time, then Bowe would win. However, the final chapter of the Holyfield trilogy seemed to take a lot from Riddick. Obviously, Bowe didn't perform very well against Golota. By their 2nd bout it was clear, that Bowe was done. However, it's not so clear, whether Bowe was shot by the 1st Golota bout or he had just underestimated the Pole. So, Bowe vs Tyson in 1996 would be intriguing. Anyway, whoever would win, none of then would be able to handle Lewis. At that time Lewis reached his absolute prime under Steward.

It's tough one for me because it all depends on what Bowe showed up.

Bowe at his best wallops '96 Tyson all day long as far as I'm concerned, but Bowe looked on the way to being shot in '96, if his showings against Golota are anything to go by.

Saying that, he still hung in there against Golota & I think Bowe might just have had enough to stop Tyson late, but not without going down himself.

Bowe V Lewis '96 is a no-brainer for me; Lewis every time.

Bowe would need to be in his pomp to beat that version of Lewis & even then, I'm not sure he would have.