Yes, he could've. By the 10th round both guys were spent and Tommy Brooks had to calm Evander down in between rounds. Tyson's corner told him to throw more and to attack better. Post prison Tyson didn't like the work needed to become successful. His mindset changed while rotting away in the clink. Don't let anyone fool you, not putting on a glove for 4 years will hinder your boxing ability.
Even though Evander looked like sh*t against Czyz a few months earlier, Tyson had a whopping total of 8 rounds under his belt dating all the way back to 1991. Less than 8 rounds in 5 years and without getting any sort of resistance from McNeeley, Mathis, Bruno or Seldon. Tyson got rushed into title fights and was good enough to beat the current belt holders yet needed more warm ups to shake off the ring rust and cobwebs. And it showed.
In fairness those guys were no test and certainly didn't get Tyson back to where he was. Bruno was the only one to really land anything, probably Tyson's best post prison performance but he wasn't worried at all that fight, he knew he had Bruno's number. The other fights before Evander were next to pointless and added to Tyson's false ego. Terrible camps, Tyson was basically training himself. These were just padded wins designed to make him look good, Mike was a con man at this point and thought he had another patsy in Holyfield. From leaving prison, Tyson was in no way prepared for a Holyfield that waited years for this fight and would do anything he had to in order to win. Tyson handled that whole buildup like a joke, jay bright as trainer? It was a Different fighter that came out of that cell but I still don't make excuses, it was his own fault, Ali showed how much greater he was after his exile. I just believe 91 Tyson had more than enough to give Evander trouble in 91. I see a win either side, not just dominant Evander has his d@ck in tysons a@@ the whole time
Correcto mundo! Wannabe trainer Jay Bright didn't do anything to help Mike's cause. Mike was developing bad habits in training and didn't really correct them until Tommy Brooks came along in 1999 for the Botha fight. Looking back it was astonishing that Mike was able to win back 2 belts 10 years after first winning the title. The only others to do this were Ali and Foreman. Holyfield NEEDED this fight for his legacy. If he never faced Tyson he wouldn't have been able to live with himself. The older I get the more I admire Holyfield's focus and determination when the big fights were on. He always seemed to lose when he should've won and won when he should've lost. Second best heavyweight resume after Ali. '91 I'm on the fence but I lean towards Tyson. He wanted the title just as bad as Holyfield wanted to beat him.
Holyfield was showing signs of steroid abuse. His inconsistent performances were becoming a trend ever since beating Alex Stewart in their rematch. Dropping Mercer and Bowe with single left hooks showed Holyfield had finally grown into a full fledged heavyweight. His muscles were popping out of his skin. He adapted better with age and fought a more disciplined fight when needed. His prayers for healing his heart AND to become more powerful were answered by god's chosen pastor, Benny Hinn.
So his body was shutting down from years of steroid abuse and then all of a sudden it turns back the years to destroy Tyson. Let me guess, Holyfield took some super duper, extra special steroids to face the destroyer Tyson.....
The overwhelming majority of professional athletes have been on PED's since the 60s. holyfield was not an exception.
Very true. But then again we can't pick and choose who we feel was on the gas. Evan Fields is enough evidence for me. I had and still have a good metabolism. Playing soccer my whole life helps. I tried Dbol back in '96 for the first and only time and my body showed signs immediately. Years later when creatine and protein shakes were the rage I would go on them for a month, off for 2 months, and so on. I got huge but never experienced the extremes of Dbol. I haven't been to the gym in almost a year (recouping from shoulder surgery) and I've lost most muscle mass. But if I tried any type of muscle enhancer today I'd experience increased muscle mass instantly. My point: people who are on the gas recognize people who are on the gas.
More than half the folk on the juice won't even admit they are on it never mind knowing someone else is taking it....
