I can still remember reading someplace, that the Cruiserweight Champ Holyfield, was to give up his belts and head up to the big boys division. I respected him as CW champ, but to be honest I didn't give him much chance. Tyson was the main man then, I just didn't think Field would be able to hang with him at all.. Sigh.. Young foolish thought s. Anyway, can you remember, if you were around, what you actually thought of The Real Deal s ambitious plan, to win the Big prize??
A lot of people were of the same mind as you at the time. There were doubts expressed about how his power would carry up to cruiser amongst other things. Above all, even if he might have had a chance otherwise, it was his sheer bad luck to move up when Tyson was champion.
At first I thought Tyson would kill him as did most people. As he began racking up wins over heavies my confidence and respect for him gradually began to grow
I remember after Tyson-Spinks looking at the heavyweight landscape and trying to figure out who would be the one with the best chance to dethrone Tyson. I settled on Buster Douglas … ok, I made that up. I figured Holyfield as being the one with the best chance, although I’m not sure I thought he’d do it — just that he looked like he would be viable to have a shot.
After the Tillis and Thomas efforts, I was a little skeptical that he had the power to really do battle with top-flight competition, and that, coupled with his generally aggressive and combative spirit, would prove too tall a mountain to summit. His power improved though (gee, wonder how) and by the time he stopped Dokes I figured he'd be an interesting test for anyone there. Still thought he was a bit small for long-term success at heavy but there ya go.
I didn't realize he was so great in the clinch part of boxing/hands. Otherwise I might have picked him over Tyson, the heavyweight KING, way back then This content is protected
Pinklon was horrible in that fight. Someone is going to have to fact check me on this but didn’t he have a stroke prior to that fight ?
That, and Holyfield looked good. Watching that, he's the guy that could beat Tyson (1988). Do you not see it?
Of course he looked good. He was a future all time great in his prime and yes he did everything he was supposed to. But that wasn’t my point.
Evander's confidence to move up was pretty simple, just increase the dosage and cycles of steroids he was already on and used to. Lol
Not after Buster Douglas happened. I imagine quite a few gave Holyfield a chance after that fight. I certainly didn’t think Tyson would kill him, but I thought it was a 50/50 fight or maybe 60/40 Tyson at best when he got himself thrown into prison.
True. If you’re talking about a specific snapshot in time that the day Holyfield moved up nobody thought he could beat Tyson immediately, sure. If we’re talking about whether people thought he had the potential to, I stated earlier that I thought he would probably have the best shot.
Title of thread: What Were Your Thoughts,, On Holyfield Moving Up To Heavyweight? Holyfield moved to heavyweight in 1988. Douglas beat Tyson in 1990. Two years apart. Nothing to do with each other. My comment was: "Everyone thought Tyson would kill him and anyone who says different is a damn liar." This is as true as when I said it, because the thread title is NOT... What Were Your Thoughts,, On two years after Holyfield Moved Up To Heavyweight?
