Would Holyfield (from Bowe 1, 2 and 3) stand a chance against the monsters of today?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by AngryBirds, Sep 17, 2024.


  1. AngryBirds

    AngryBirds Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    1,840
    2,020
    Sep 3, 2022
    I think Holyfield would get destroyed against just about all of the top guys due to their massive weight advantage. Holyfield would easily outbox them ofc but once they start to return fire and given Holyfields tendency to trade, I don't see how he survives any of it. Wilders punches for example had very little effect on Zhang due to a 68 lb weight difference and Holyfield from the early 90's was around Wilders weight today.

    Maybe if its Holyfield from Bowe 2 he might stand a chance because of how juiced he had gotten, but even then...I think he still loses to people in the Millerweight category (300+ lbs).
     
    oldcanvasback likes this.
  2. The Cryptkeeper

    The Cryptkeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,933
    5,591
    May 9, 2023
    The weight advantage argument at HW is something of a myth and has been done to death. At the size some of these guys are, much of what they are carrying around is useless blubber.

    Holyfield went the distance twice with Lennox Lewis who would literally destroy every heavyweight around today. Lewis was 6”5. Riddick Bowe wasn’t small either and he’d beat most of the best guys today.

    Would Holyfield beat Fury and AJ? Hard to say but at worst he’s a very live chance. Zhang is just a fat sack of crap with one trick. Holyfield boxes the ears off him. And he makes a joke of the others.

    Usyk vs Holyfield is the one question mark for me. But Usyk ain’t a “super” heavy so it’s a moot point.

    As for Miller. Miller is more likely to eat him than to beat him.
     
  3. zwaargewicht

    zwaargewicht New Member banned Full Member

    99
    170
    Aug 1, 2024
    The Holyfield facing Tyson and Lewis was a significantly declined one, not least because of the brutal wars he had been to against Bowe. He still battered Tyson thoroughly and, by Lewis’ own admission, gave Lewis his toughest ever fight. So if he could do all that while already being over the hill, there’s no reason why a prime Holyfield from the early nineties wouldn’t be a force to be reckoned with in this or any other HW era.
     
  4. zwaargewicht

    zwaargewicht New Member banned Full Member

    99
    170
    Aug 1, 2024
    Holyfield said even in his prime, he would find Usyk too difficult to beat. Maybe he was just being polite, the Real Deal was always a gentleman after all. But I can see why Usyk’s defence, movement, work rate and footwork would be too much to handle even for a prime Holyfield.
     
    The Cryptkeeper likes this.
  5. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    27,501
    36,705
    Jul 4, 2014
    He would stand no chance due to better PEDs testing.
     
  6. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

    81,281
    21,749
    Sep 15, 2009
    Holyfield fought on even terms with Bowe and Lewis. He arguably beat Valuev when he was half blind, riddled with arthritis and on the wrong side of 50.

    Let's never assume someone beats Holyfield because they're big lol.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2024
  7. TMLT87

    TMLT87 Active Member Full Member

    1,035
    1,121
    Feb 21, 2021
    He'd be the no1 HW today most likely.
     
  8. AdamT

    AdamT Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    5,743
    10,145
    Sep 18, 2019
    Between him and usyk for number 1
     
  9. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

    60,573
    80,817
    Aug 21, 2012
    I think he does. He might have his hands full with Fury, Usyk, AJ and maybe Parker but I'd favour him against the rest. A lot of these guys are just big and slow. Zhang who is big and fast, gasses out during the ring walk.
     
    Usyk is the best likes this.
  10. theanatolian

    theanatolian Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    17,719
    6,100
    May 2, 2015
    Holyfield from Bowe 1? Usyk is the only one he woldn't be heavily favoured against.

    And how many more SHWs does Usyk need to spank for people to realize, that this garbage size difference argument against smaller HW greats is just that, garbage?
     
  11. MorvidusStyle

    MorvidusStyle Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,677
    6,004
    Jul 11, 2017
    He got KO'd by a fat MW, literally a natural MW. That's even worse than AJ getting KO'd by an obese LHW who never fought there because he was obese since childhood.
     
  12. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,579
    8,547
    Sep 19, 2021
    100% yes. He went the distance twice with Lewis.
     
    Aburius likes this.
  13. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,469
    32,124
    Jan 14, 2022
    Holyfield at close to 50 years old should've got the nod over Valuev who was 7 foot and over 300 pounds.

    He also beat other big men like Bowe, Foreman, Douglas, who all weighed over 240 pounds.

    Not to mention whilst Holyfield was a bit past his prime gave the best big skilled man ever in Lennox Lewis a close fight in their 2nd meeting.

    Holyfield at his best could absolutely beat the likes of Joshua, Fury. I think your forgetting Cunningham who was a Cruiserweight floored Fury heavily and was ahead on points. And Cunningham is not even close to a prime Holyfield at Heavyweight.

    And Joshua got poleaxed by Ruiz who is shorter than Holyfield.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2024
    Smoochie, The Cryptkeeper and Aburius like this.
  14. Boxing_Fan101

    Boxing_Fan101 Undisputed Available bookgoodies.com/a/1068623705 Full Member

    760
    938
    Jan 5, 2024
    Fury and Usyk would be the only two who would give him issues, no way AJ has the skill or speed to hurt Holy who would see his punches coming from a mile away
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2024
    Spreadeagle likes this.
  15. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,634
    16,701
    Jan 13, 2021
    You're an idiot
     
    Loudon likes this.