What were your thoughts going into Holyfield-Qawi 1

That they were crazy to stick him in there with a champion who was both crafty and relentless like qawi after only 11 fights. Trial by fire, Holyfield passed with flying colors.

 

I thought the same as contro ,that it was way to much , to soon. I expected holy field to be brave and fight him Head on ,a big mistake I thought. Perhaps a mid rounds stoppage for Qawi !.But it was just the start of the holy field legend .

 

I thought either Holy was far too green or Qawi was shot. I was wrong on both counts. I consider this my second favorite fight.

 

That's what I would have though if I had been old enough to really follow boxing back then.

 

I thought Dwight would win. i felt like they were rushing Evander. He only had like 10 or 11 fights before that fight.

His heart and conditioning won it for him.

Dwight was just not as sharp at 190 lbs. as he had been in his 175 lb. prime. He was still smart and very good overall, but well below his 1981-1982 prime form.

 

Why would you have thought Dwight was "shot?."

He had slowed a little but his only loss to that point since very early in his career was a decision loss to Michael Spinks.

 

Because at 190 his level of competition was a full class or two below the guys he was fighting at 175 and he still looked to have lost his edge a bit. Yes his fights with guys like Leon Spinks were fun but Spinks was a punching bag at that point. Qawi was 3 years removed from his dispassionate loss to Michael Spinks, which bordered on outright capitulation and was now 33 years old and fighting 15 pounds above his best weight. I still think Qawi was slipping when he fought Holy but he was able to muster up one last great performance like a lot of aging guys do.

 

No doubt Qwai was past his best. I would certainly not say shot. He was still world class and had very little wear and tear. It was a risky decision to put Holyfield in with him and if it was pretty much any fighter other than Holyfield he would have lost. His heart was insane as it continued to be through out his carer .. even today he talks about it as his toughest bout.

 

I didn't exist yet but Jake Lamotta did. I wonder who he favored??

 

i got the feeling an upset was in the wind and was correct. Holy won by outlasting Qawi

although close, I gave it to Evander by 2 points

Shame on Qawi for losing to a fighter with 12 fights

 

I think he had nothing to be ashamed of .. he fought his heart out, maybe his gutsiest performance ..just fought a bigger, supremely talented , younger man ..

 

This is EXACTLY what was going through my head as well. Couldn't agree more. I was SOOO wrong lol.

 

Qawi was also too heavy. he's only 5-7

 

Look it was not his prime which was at 175 but in his thirties post Spinks he moved up .. he was good enough to win a title and look world class competitive because he was such a skilled guy .. the Duva's were not dumb .. they took a calculated shot on a still very dangerous guy that was getting long in the tooth fighting out of his best weight ..