I think that the B/W would be more dramatic than the color version if you would manipulate the channels to create something other than a B/W version of a color photo.
The potential is there....go for it!!
The out of focus area in the foreground is almost the lightest area in the photo. This creates competition away from the center of interest. I would suggest completely cropping the bottom third of the photo.
But, then again, there is no accounting for taste...especially mine...