Holyfield v Usyk At Heavyweight

I have Usyk by a close hard fought decision.

In terms of rankings, i rate Holyfield higher at heavyweight since he has a deeper resume. Yes, he has some losses mixed in but that is to be expected when you fight so long and so many different styles.

In terms of h2h, i think Usyk's jab troubles him similar to Moorer. I also think Usyk has the ability to pick up the pace late in the fight.

Usyk is smart enough not to engage in close. Holyfield had a tendency to brawl unnecessarily at times.

That being said, it won't be easy. Holyfield's straight right hand and underrated left hook will cause damage and allow him to win at least 4 and probably 5 rounds. Now a lot of people will argue that Dubois and Joshua had bigger right hands than Holyfield and neither man was able to do that much with them. True. Both Dubois and Joshua were hesitant to attack Usyk with their straight right hand consistently because both men have average chins and once they tasted Usyk's left, it made them hesitant to consistently attack him with the straight right.

Holyfield has a great chin and as such, its hard to deter him from consistently throwing that straight right hand that all southpaws including Usyk are very open to.

Holyfield has the stamina to keep up with Usyk and his straight right and left hook combo will keep things extremely competitive. That being said, i also think Usyk will have plenty of success with his straight left and his underrated jab which will cause issues. Ultimately, i think Usyk is a slightly more clever boxer while Holyfield had a tendency to get a little careless at times. I think Usyk knows fighting on the inside vs Holyfield is a losing cause and i think he will avoid it and win a close hard fought decision. If they fight 3 times, Holyfield is bound to probably win one.

Usyk close UD, 7-5.

 

I think a 28 year old undefeated Holyfield might have barely edged Usyk. Not something I’d bet money on but I think it could happen

 

I think Holyfield is an underrated fighter and wouldn’t shame himself in any effort with nearly anybody. EH had real skills but like Ali I think he shines best countering against cruder, punch happy fighters then he does in a straight boxing match. Usyk being about as good and a southpaw is enough for me to not think too hard on it but either way Holy winning would be unsurprising… the southpaw boxers like Byrd and Moorer he faced were pretty complimentary to Holy’s skills and smarts so it is what it is I’d guess Usyk 8-4 with Holyfield doing his best work when he’s not eating jabs (he really does…) and gets inside or gets his combinations off, off a counter… he’d be the hardest fight of Usyk’s career by far but I think for Holyfield it’d be just a bad style match up.

 

I certainly wouldn't count the Byrd fight as relevant given that Holyfield was 39 and had been a pro for 18 years. I mean come on. Usyk has been a pro for a decade so he is still a relatively preserved and youngish 38. Holyfield was beyond ancient at 39.

 

Usyk close decision but the Holyfield who fought Holmes and Douglas could take it. Perfect blend of Man and Machine

 

Who tf is? I hope you’re not trying to act like I am, because lol “”I mean come on” seriously read the post again.

 

Think usyk makes it to 48 undefeated?

 

Holyfield was quicker. (See his fight against Michael dokes.) had better, more vicious combination punching. took a better punch. Was easily skilled enough to match uysk on the outside, and was far better on the inside. The definitive advantages I could say uysk has over holyfield aside being a southpaw are his length, jab, and higher stamina. The stylistic matchup favours holyfield because of his pressure, inside fighting, and chin. Uysk’s jab is not nearly powerful enough to keep Evander at bay like riddick bowe’s or Lennox lewis’s.

 

I favor Holyfield also. Usyk does have the advantage of having a cooler head. He seems to have no problem disengaging when an exchange starts going downhill. Holyfield gets stubborn and wants to fight it out.

 

I don't see Usyk losing to Bowe, Moorer, or Ruiz, or getting dropped by Cooper. Holy got some real good names, but he got them at the right time, and yes, there is the HGH thing.

Solidly Usyk for me.

 

At this point Holyfield for me. Usyk has proven himself a fine tamer of the big boys and i reckon Holyfield would present some problems.

 

Holyfield would expose the level of competition Usyk has been way overrated for beating, Holyfield by an absolute schooling

 

But Holy beat a post-40 Foreman, a post-40 Holmes, a post-prison Tyson, a morbidly obese Douglas...so...

 

I think Holyfield UD. He is the better fighter in my view.