Jeffries vs. Holyfield

Do you seriously think Holyfield could go 20-25 rounds like Jeffries did, several times?

 

Why not, it would be fought at a slower pace.

 

The better question might be, would the fight even need to go 20-25 rounds?

 

Again, I'm no Jeffries fan boy. I've stated in here many times that I considered him to be a clumsy, slow albeit athletic HW.
However, I don't think anyone can deny that his main positive attribute was the ability to take horrible punishment and survive
many rounds till the other guy just got tired. Yes, I think it would have possibly gone 20-25 rounds; even after 6years of no boxing he went 15 rounds with Jack Johnson. YES, it was at a much slower pace. Not exactly apples to apples I agree. I just don't see Holyfield as having the power to KO Jeffries within 12 rounds. Absolutely The Real Deal wins an easy 12 round UD.

 

Fair enough. I do find the stamina question an interesting one though. Holyfield's work ethic over 15 rounds was noteworthy. If he could pace himself, I don't see 20+ rounds being insurmountable for someone of peak Holyfield's performance level.

And, in relation to Jeffries' ability to withstand punishment, one perhaps needs to consider that he was often taking said punishment from guys who were spotting him anything from 20 to 40 pounds.

Against Holyfield, Jeffries would be up against a fighting machine who was not handicapped by a wide size differential. I can't help but think that Jeffries would not have experienced anything like it and never have had to take the kind of punishment that Holyfield could dish out, round after round.

 

Absolutely, if he were only required to fight at the pace which Jeffries fought against the opponents Jeffries faced. Holy was a dialed in athlete who trained all damn day, 6 days a week, under the tutelage of the finest trainers (Tom Holland and others).

Conversely, I don't see Jeffries lasting 5 rounds, let alone 20, with the likes of Bowe, Old Foreman, Lewis, Moorer and many others who Holy faced.

 

All true enough, but all supposition. You're assuming Holyfield could go 25 rounds, whereas Jefferies fact DID go 25 rounds, and over 20 several other times. Bottom line here is we'll never know if Holy could go 25 rounds or if Jefferies could last more than 5 rounds against him.

 

I agree Holyfield had a higher output, more movement, and had better competition.

But 25 rounds>>>12 rounds.

Try actually working out for 25 rounds (better yet, fighting that long) and let me know if you think it wouldn't make a ginormous difference compared to 12.

 

Jefferies didn't have a heart panic gasping for air in just 8 rounds like Holyfield did.

Nor was he gassing struggling before losing to Moorer in 12 rounds like Holyfield did.

 

I’d have to re-read the multiple reports to provide those details dude.

 

I can see Holyfield bouncing up and down on his toes, moving in and out smoothly, Jeffries leaps in with a wide hook to which Holyfield responds with a perfectly executed 17 punch combo to the point of Jeff's Jawbone, knocking him out good, knocking him out real good.