Holyfield 89-91 vs Holyfield 96-97

I read all the time that many think that Holyfield may not have been able to beat Tyson before 1996.. Most of what I read states that he needed the extra weight which would equal more size and strength is I assume what they are driving at, though he was up what 7-8 pounds not sure thats a huge difference .. I know he weighed 208 for awhile in his first reign.. I think he was 215 for the Tyson fight.. I feel as though the '96 version of Holyfield fought much smarter, he knew when to slug and when to hold.. Before the loss to Riddick Bowe in fight one, you hit Evander and he was going to hit ya back and then the war was on... See Dokes or Bowe I as evidence... So I do agree that style wise it may have worked in Holyfields advantage that he met Mike later on in his career.. Though I am one who thinks Holyfield beats Mike in their Primes or when ever 89-90 96, I think he just does.. So on to my question how do you all think that the "on his toes", ready to slug at the drop of a hat Holyfield does against the 96 version who was a much rougher grinding type fighter...




1991 Holy

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1996 Holy

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Good assessment :good I have yet to cast my vote as I am on the fence still.. I can see many different scenarios playing out, I can see the 89 version winning as you stated from the outside though he would need to fight as he did against Foreman and pick and choose when he went on the offense.. Though this could also still ruin him as 96 Evander may catch him, hurt him badly and finish him.... Its a tough call, I am going to continue to ponder this one...

 

After much thought on this I decided to go with the Holyfield 89-91.. I think he will survive some rocky moments in the fight and win on points.. He takes a great shot we all know that, he was hit with heavy punches all through the earliest points of his heavyweight career, the fight will be a nasty war, but we saw him always pretty much come through.. So like he did against Dokes he will keep coming... I don't think 96 Holyfield will hit 89 Holyfield any harder then say a puncher like Foreman or Alex Stewart did, go back and watch that first fight with Stewart he unloaded on Holyfield in round 5, Dokes also hit him plenty.. I see this fight as a razor thin win for 89 Holy I see a majority decision for 89 Holyfield..


Go to about 5:15 in to see what Holy took
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzzW_35k8-E"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzzW_35k8-E[/ame]

 

lol ... its just sounds funny, I agree :good

 

Yeah I wish we could have had that fight... Let me ask you this, lets say Mike does not lose to Buster and they fight in '90.. Who do you think would have won? I feel as though Mike had already slipped a little at that point.. But was still clearly better then he was in 96.. Hell even the one after losing to Buster was still very close to peak Mike and quite a handful, the one that fought Tillman thru Ruddock...

 

Yeah even though Holyfield eventually earned the respect and admiration of boxing fans its crazy to think how different he would have been perceived all of those years had he fought and beat Mike back then.. Funny thing is Holyfield is pretty much my all time fave, but it wasn't always like that for me. I grew up in the 80's and loved Tyson, so when he went away all I could think about was how Evander was just keeping Mike's throne warm.. I rooted against Evander in every fight, after Douglas (since Douglas beat Mike) I wanted Holy in that one... Only after the first Bowe fight did I become a HUGE Holyfield fan.. And then I was that guy who kept saying he would be able to beat Tyson, not sure if I actually believed it but as a big Holyfield fan then I said it. ...