The difference between Holyfield and Haye

Haye had good speed and reflexes but his his chin was average at best. Coupled with the fact that his power was incredibly overrated = a short career as a contender

 

This is quite accurate really! Also sad that they ended up as a result losing to lesser fights they would have annihilated in their primes.

 

Nobody is suggesting Haye should be put in the same league as Holyfield. He did put away the Ruiz that an aged Holyfield couldn't, only small plus he has against Holyfield. Prime vs prime would be a good fight tho.

 

Difficult to work on things and adapt as you get older, when you're not in any fit shape to go the gym.

 

Agree with corbyn. Hayes fall from grace has been more from injury than age. His fundamentals we,re never that bad anyway. His big hayemakers always looked a bit suspect fundamentally but apart from that his footwork etc was always solid enough. But the guys trying to fight guys that are training two or three times a day...when hes struggling to do a pad session. Or can't spar. Or can't use the legs to train due to injury etc. You,ve no chance really. Doesn't matter your natural ability...when the opponents are as dedicated as they are. Your gonna end up struggling to compete with them.

 

Inactivity and injuries ruined Haye. Despite Holyfield being old when he fought Lewis he was very active, which matters even more when you get older. Also, I think Haye rushed himself when he got to heavyweight. I don't think he every fully adjusted to fighting with the extra weight while Holyfield gradually increased his weight with each fight until he felt comfortable at around 210 and would fight at that weight consistently.

 

There is quite a difference between the Ruiz a faded Holyfield fought vs the one Hate faced. Ruiz was 3-3 in his previous six plus a 9 year gap. To suggest he was the same man is laughable

 

Eh, he'd went life and death with Valuev and Chag. I don't recall seeing much decline.

 

Haye continued to fight like a young man as he slowed down he didn't adjust .Still looking for fast single shots from a wide stance square on hands down but he gets hit now as his reflexes have dulled .he is vulnerable to jabs and straight shots from any boxer who fights on the outside and doesn't fight in close .Haye could of changed his stile in the gym with work but I think its to late now.

 

no, it wouldnt. evander is superior in every way except speed, and he knew how to deal with that. haye was a solid quick burning star that filled a gap in the boxing landscape for a spell, holyfield could step in a ring and challenge any man who ever lived.

 

Pretty much this ^^^^^
To compare Holyfield to Haye is to compare the Matterhorn to a wart. Holy was a down to the bone warrior born to fight. Haye was a great athlete that liked fame.

 

Seriously?! As Holmes famously said of Marciano, Haye couldn't carry Holyfield's jockstrap. Holyfield was much more durable than Haye and even if he got caught by Haye he would have weathered the storm and KO'd Haye.

 

Prime Haye would give him a reasonably competitive fight. If an ancient Holmes and Alex Stewart can do it then so can Haye. Btw Evan Fields stripped of roids, how good is he? Who knows.

 

Holyfield was very masculine whereas Haye is quite effeminate, especially in the toe area.

Can anyone visualize Holyfield losing a fight and blaming a big toe injury afterwards?