He shouldnt get a pass at all but people should stop acting like Holyfield was this great legend with tons of heart. He was a cheating hypocrite who shouldnt be allowed anywhere near the hall of fame.
He did fight very dirty at times, but the real deal did have tons of heart and that's no act. Why shouldn't he be allowed when the boxing hall of fame has plenty of cheating hypocrites in it?
Nothing but respect for Holyfield. I'd wager just about everyone was on roids at the time. Yes he could be dirty as all hell but the man went to war with guys far bigger and stronger and beat them with an indomitable will and an iron chin. He wilted guys with far more physical talent and ability through massive work ethic. That said he was going to set somebody off eventually. I'm actually suprized Bowe didn't lose it in their trilogy.
Well to say it was Tinkerbell who caused his own cut after trying to headbutt Holyfield in their first bout I think the saying "what's good enough for the Goose is good enough for the Gander" is pretty apt.....
No, you shouldn't be able to bite the other guys ear off regardless to head butts :nono it leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth :smoke
Holyfeild was very professional about those head butts. He knew exactly what he was doing and why he was doing it but really made it impossible for a ref to officiate against it. Holyfeild just made sure the guy ran into the top of his head. He followed through with his skull behind the punch too. Deliberate or not, if the fighter is moving in with a punch causing a "head clash" you can't call it. It's not like Evander was leaping in to score a goal with a header. Unless you do that there is no foul to call.
No in a word. What Holyfield did was wrong, but it was within the bounds of what you have to expect to encounter, as a professional boxer. What Tyson did was not.
Losers (and their fans) make excuses. Winners adjust. This has been true for as long as there has been sports.
