Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield in 1991

I posted a thread on an interview Holyfield did. Its around here somewhere :good

Holyfield himself stated he does not know how a fight in 91 would have gone.

He said he only beat Tyson in 96 from a condition standpoint and he was fortunate to fight him in 96

He said he was unsure whether Tyson could fight hard like he used to (Pre prison)

He also admitted himself he would have fought more aggressivley. (Which IMO would lead to him getting KTFO)

Good fight it would have been, but not for Holyfield.

 

Holyfield was not in his prime around that period, certainly not as a heavyweight. Holyfield didn't settle at heavyweight until 93/94, around that period he gained a stone in bulk and although slightly less consistent from a workrate point of view, he was stronger and more durable, many of his best victories were from 93' onwards., Bowe, Mercer, Moorer, Tyson, Lewis 2(arguably), Ruiz, Rahman...he was more canny and controlled in those fights. Holyfield was still vunerable around 90/91 and hadn't yet settled at the higher weight, this resulted in life and death struggles against Dokes, Stewart, Cooper and Bowe. Each of those fights were very hard for him and he had to dig very deep to win. Tyson in 91 had convincing victories over Stewart and Ruddock, proving that he was back for good. Holyfield's all out slugging style would have gotten him knocked out against Tyson in 91, stopped inside 6 rounds after a brave attempt. He barely weighed 200 pounds and was simply not big enough to withstand a Tyson who was still 90% there......In fact Ruddock would have been a very difficult fight for Holyfield in 91....

 

Holyfield had Tyson's number plain and simple, Tyson had never fought anybody who had the intensity and the will to win as Holyfield. Whatever Tyson threw at him Holyfield would fire back with more. Holyfield of 91 was a hell of a better fighter than the one that spanked Tyson's ass, he threw way more combinations and was much quicker, he would have stopped Tyson within 9 rounds

 

Holyfield would have stopped him late, Holy had the grit, determination, and spirit that Tyson lacked in the championship rounds:deal..

Holyfield held most of the advantages, HEART, Chin, reach, height, physical strength, mental strength, endurance, intelligence, focus, Tyson was never very smart to say the least...

Tyson whipped his overrated ass 2x in the 90's despite being 4 years older, and A HEART PROBLEM TO BOOT:hi:..

I would bet the house RIGHT NOW TODAY, that if they both came out of retirement for 1 last fight against each other Holyfield would stomp his ass out again....:smoke

Oh and BTW they both were set to fight in November 1991, but Tyson naturally chickened out and called the fight off...

 

I'd even bet my house that Holyfield now would stomp Tyson of 2005 who got his ass handed to him by the Jolly Green Giant, the legendary Kevin Mcbride..

 

Absolutely, very close and difficult to pick a winner. By 96' Tyson was clearly in decline and no longer a world beater, still had the punch but not too much else. He was able to frighten Bruno and Seldon into submission but clearly not the case with Holyfield. I suspect a longish fight where Holyfield survives a torrid opener to slowly counter Tyson and stop him late on, very similar to their encounter in 96. It could go the distance but i lean towards Holyfield by late stoppage. Holy TKO 11 Tyson.

 

would have been one of the great fights of all time if it happened, with their styles and them being more energetic. I sway on it from time to time. I think I mainly edge towards Holyfield because he was always mentally charged to beat Tyson, he would do anything to win that fight, sometimes you just cant beat a fighter whose lifes destiny is to beat you. at other times I think Tyson's physical strength and speed, even in 91 might make Evander's warrior spirit a moot point.
the Ruddock fights showed Tyson would have been hard for Holyfled to beat him down like he did in 96 (yes I know Evander isnt Ruddock). 91 Tyson could go a full 12 and be dangerous throughout, he was different as in mind set as well, not as easily discouraged. He caught some huge punches from Ruddock who likely hit harder than Holyfield, but Tyson stayed determined, even after being hurt. I wonder if Holy could have hurt 91 Tyson.
Tyson fought less frequent bursts by 91 but those bursts were pretty lethal, he pretty much destroyed Ruddocks entire body in their fights, so I sometimes wonder how holyfield would have taken that punishment when he was a smaller, less wiley fighter.
At other times I look at some of Holyfields older fights and see that the man was a beast, he was an uppercut monster and just didnt take no for an answer. its a hard one really, because I think in 96 Tyson was missing so much its difficult to base that fight on what would have happened, except for the fact Evander had the mental strength. but would that be enough against a fresher Tyson that can fight effectively for more than 4 rounds. we saw him have some success in the 5th round in 96, he could probably do that more and cause more damage a few years earlier. still, my head says points win for Evander Holyflied.

 

And all but one of his losses. Holy of '91 doesn't lose to Moorer and he doesn't get KO'd by a Bowe in so-so shape.

 

I m going tyson for the win. As good as holyfirld was tyson was better in his prime. All credit to holyfield for the 1996 win. But that was far away from prime tyson. Think the truth is tyson undone all his good work over the years the work with cus etc with his wild living.

Was pretty much living as a down and out for years from what i can gather from his book. Even just going back and watching his post prison career now in hindsight overlooking the hype. He was finished even from the start of it. Or finished as he was anyway.

Holyfield himself was on the downward spiral...but tyson was a good bit further gone from his glory days. Understandibly so if his books to be believed anyway.

Tbf to the pair of them their level of skill was so high...even finished they we,re still a lot better at that point that most of the heavyweights today.

Holyfield was pretty much tysons worst nightmare at that point. Holyfield had a massive heart. Amazing stamina. Could throw continuously. All bad news for a guy that couldnt match it by that point.

 

Don't do this my friend ! Holyfield never beat the PRIME Tyson.
Otherwise
In 1991 Ruddock version Tyson by points (I hope nobody forget the bum Bert Cooper could knock down
the prime Holyfield . A 42 years old Holmes was competitive against the prime Holyfield.

But in 1987 Tucker version Tyson by ko.(Tucker could survive because he was a fast,tall(6'5") runner,
the prime Holyfield was very easy to hit(Holmes and Foreman fights.)