Prime Evander Holyfield will always beat prime Tyson

Pre-Bruno, absolutely my friend.

I have him at #4 behind only Ali, Louis, and Holmes.

I agree, but I daresay Joe Louis, 1959 Liston, FOTC Frazier, and 1992 Bowe stand a good chance.

 

That’s awesome. They were originally supposed to meet in June 1990 but Douglas beating Tyson threw that off.

 

Most people have this opinion about a fighter who lost when they weren't at their apex/best. Some people think Calzaghe would've beat RJJ just because he beat him past his prime. Holyfield fought Tyson when he was no longer the brilliant, menancing, powerful aggressive counterpuncher we were all accustomed to seeing under Rooney.

 

I dunno. We can talk about primes and all that, but even if they fought again, which actually may happen, I would not be confident in Tyson winning.
I can respect arguments for either guy, but I think Holyfield would always be a thorn in Tyson's side, regardless of when they fought.

 

I tend to flip flop on this but I know two things for sure, either June '90 or Nov '91 would've been great fights, & Mcneeley K.O 1, Mathis K.O 3, Bruno K.O 3 & Seldon K.O 1 was not adequate preparation after 4 years in the slammer for a fight with a grizzled veteran like Holyfield, even if he was older than Tyson.

 

Love Holyfield, but he doesn't beat Tyson prime vs prime.
Not because he didn't have the skills or physical ability.
But Because of his bravery and willingness to try and retaliate
too quickly. Being a warrior is great, but the great warriors
knew when to fall back a little and change tactics.

I Don't see Holyfield doing that, especially against Tyson.
He would engage in the fire fight with a fighter just as fast
as he was, but with a lot more steam on his punches, and
a better overall arsenal.
A Barn burner of a fight. But Tyson wins this as much as I
hate to think it.

 

Strange as it may seem i don't think peak Tyson would beat the version of Holyfield he lost too.

Holyfield's spoiling tactics were utter perfection and when he did take bombs he shipped them beautigully truth be told. His tactics meant he really didn't have to take that many. Jumping in punching then holding, often letting fly when Tyson punched instead of backing up and basically just grinding Tyson down both physically and mentally.

Personally i can't see Tyson getting past that as even a younger version would be stifled.

 

Your putting it that way makes me think....it's just that Mike seemed so much sharper in the 80s.

 

They’re both great fighters

 

Not great for Desiree Washington either.

 

He was sharper but Holyfields game plan would still stifle that extra sharpness for mine. I mean Tyson didn't remotely look like winning either fight against Holyfield.

 

I can’t see Tyson ever beating Holyfield really.

 

Unpopular opinion ? Certainly not. Click bait ? In my honest opinion, Holyfield and Lennox Lewis always beat Tyson. Every night and twice on Sunday.
Tyson tried all he could to beat Holyfield in that first fight but was simply out gamed and out manned. He was a nervous wreck for the rematch, losing all self respect out of almost hysterical fear.
Against Lewis, Mike's always going to drop his left after throwing the jab, particularly to the body, and Lennox is always going to drop his big right in the gap.

 

“Prime Tyson” is such a myth that almost anyone beating him is an “unpopular opinion.” I’m not saying he wasn’t a great fighter. He was fantastic, but he was far from unbeatable, and true all-timers like Holyfield and Lewis were certainly better and would beat him more often than not.

 

But that wasn't prime Holyfield, that skill developed a little after the Bowe fights. He used the crown of his head as a weapon much more offensively. Also he used it defensively by smothering opponents punches by his head placement.
Yes that Holyfield may have been able to off set what Prime Tyson did with his physicality and toughness. Probably better than prime Holyfield would've, because in his prime he didn't fight that way, His style was much more traditional .
Prime Holyfield was much more what we saw when he fought Bert Cooper the poor man's Mike Tyson.
If Tyson landed that cleanly and had Holyfield as badly hurt as Cooper did, I don't believe he survives.