Most impressive regaining of the title, , ali v foreman or holyfield V tyson?

I thought at the time that Foreman was an unbeatable monster who would destroy Ali. Wrong again. I always liked Tyson, but I never thought he was unbeatable even before Douglas. The Holyfield fight didn't really shock me that much. To me, Foreman-Ali was it

 

I was around in 74. The overwhelming majority did not give Ali a chance. Don't give into historical revisionism. 3-1 odds against a former hwt champion 13-1 in his last 14 bouts is steep.

 

3-1 were the odds fight morning but i've also seen a lot of claims they reached 7/1 at some point.

 

I agree with what someone says above.
Ali's was the greater victory but Holyfield's was the greater upset.

 

It's not 'historical revisionism'. I'm going on what was filmed at the time showing how sportswriters were predicting the fight would go. It's a matter of fact if that footage is authentic that a decent proportion of reporters were picking Ali to win.

 

Tyson being shot is absolute nonsense. After Holy he went through his opponents with more or less his usual ease until Lewis. A shot fighter would not have gone through Seldon and Bruno like Tyson did and then literally cave in Golota's face five years later.

Ali after Spinks was shot. Charles after Marciano was shot. Tyson after prison wasn't quite the same, but far from shot.

 

Again ...Ali as former champion, 13-1 in his last 14 bouts and had just beaten Frazier and Norton. Yet he was a 3-1 long shot by fight time. Why? At 32 Ali was perceived as old and at his careers end while Foreman was in his prime and undefeated. Ali struggled life and death with Frazier and Norton but Foreman destroyed both.

Any thought that there was this great feeling Ali would beat Foreman is pure nonsense. Ali's own camp was fearful about Ali's chances vs Foreman.

 

Ali's victory over Foreman was far more impressive in every respect. Although it was hard to tell based on his subpar opposition (with the exception of Bruno) post prison, Tyson was nowhere near the fighter he once was. Holyfield's victory was only so surprising because he too had looked pretty bad leading up to that fight. But, at least Holyfield was still the consummate professional and trained his ass off for Tyson. post prison Tyson basically trained for a 3 round blowout. If it didn't happen, he was always going to be in deep ****. I was at Tyson-Holyfield, and I would be shocked if Tyson threw 100 punches after round 4. He certainly didn't land many after that.

 

I was around back then too,Perry. Yes,Ali was definitely an underdog but he still had quite a few more backing him than Holyfield did against Tyson.

I listened to Ali-Foreman on the radio. My most joyous moment ever boxingwise.

 

But staying competitive with Tyson after 5 rds was the big thing. The only one to be ahead at that point and lose was Botha.

Yes, Holy showed that Tyson at that stage didn't have the stamina to stay competitive throughout a hard-fought fight. But the thing with Tyson is that we don't know that he ever did. He went the distance with Green, Smith, Tucker and Ruddock without ever being extended. Tillis was more competitive, but not to any serious extent.

In the end, what we know is that Tyson lost all but one of the fights where he wasn't ahead after 5 rds. So we'll never really know how much him fading after the first 5 with Holy was down to stamina he lost in prison or stamina/grit he just never had in the first place.

 

Overwhelmingly the thought was Ali was at career end, old and unable to avoid being cornered and koed very early. The two opponents Ali went life and death with Foreman crushed within two rounds each. Foreman was thought of as unbeatable and in the prime of his career. Thus the 3-1 odds. Ali's own corner did not think he would win that night.

Amazing the revisionism that takes place regarding a bout so well documented.

 

Ali V Foreman...................no doubt..............