Most great offensive fighters especially punchers tend to get overrated at their peak. The perception that they are indescribable because they are sparking out opponents. Tyson was a spectacular performer certainly. Tyson was Jimmy Connors Holyfield was Borg.
I'm betting on Holyfield at almost any point in their careers. IMHO, he was better than Tyson, and, in addition to that, he had a style that Tyson couldn't really deal with. There are too many things there for Mike to overcome with Evander.
Tyson never proved he is good enough to beat a prime, super clever, fast, titanium chinned and elusive Holyfield. Evander was always superior than any version of Mike in terms of competition and resume as well
How? Didn't he use his PEDS-fueled muscles to reduce Tyson force in tha clinch and very subtle headbutt tactics to defeat him? In 88 Holyfield wasn't exactly so huge and I remember him not havin' mastered the art of cheating so well.
He survived Bowe, Foreman, Cooper, Moorer (While having heart issues), Stewart, and more, and you think that Tyson would be able to knock him out? Half or more of these guys are much harsher punchers than Tyson ever was, even in his prime. Mike was insanely physically impressive but people seem to really overrate his punching power, he's not even top 10 for the decade based simply off of what fighters in the 90s had to say.
The 1986-88 version of Tyson was a FORCE--and as game and tough a fighter as Holyfield was he would not be a match for peak Tyson. I would say a KO or stoppage in--let's say 8 rounds. (Holyfield would battle fiercely like the warrior he was but prime Tyson would just have too much for him to handle!!)
I'm not overrating Mike's power one bit, because my assessment is not based on how hard he hit, but rather on how accurate he was. And none of the guys you mentioned managed to land on Holyfield a combo like the one I envision Mike landing, which is a 3 shot combo with all bodyweight behind each shot.
Prime for prime: Tyson KO 8 Holyfield Holy would always be a difficult task but against the young Tyson dynamo tearing the division up? No chance for a Holyfield victory. Even 1991 Tyson might be too much for Holyfield.
Yeah, in 91 it would’ve been REAL interesting. Tyson wasn’t quite as sharp as he was in lets says 88 but he killed the body (see the Ruddock Fights) and could probably hurt Holyfield downstairs as Bowe did. The Holyfield that fought Foreman, though he stylistically might not be the best version to face off against a Tyson was the most spry and could throw punches for days. This fight would’ve really been something in 91. I’m torn between Tyson being the better of the two at their peaks, or maybe Holyfield would always have had the solution, we can debate it forever. I just know we missed out.