If instead of Holyfield you put Usyk fighting 30-year-old Mike Tyson in 1996, who would win?

I think Usyk would beat 96 Tyson because 96 Tyson just did not have the focus of the 88 or even 92 version.

That being said, Tyson is simply a harder fight for Usyk stylistically than Holyfield.

Usyk's southpaw stance makes him more open for Tyson's powerful straight right hand compared to Holyfield. Southpaws have many advantages but when faced with an orthodox fighter who has both a great chin and a huge right hand, the left handed stance opens you up more to the right hand. Giants like Joshua and Fury were reluctant to consistently throw their straight rights vs Usyk (consistently in every round) because of their average chins. But Tyson wouldn't be.

Additionally, while Usyk is physically very strong, his physical strength is primarily used to defend himself vs a larger man trying to bully him. Usyk won't manhandle Mike the way Holyfield did as it simply isn't his style. If he could have done that, we would have seen it vs Breidis or Chisora but we didn't.

96 Tyson still is quicker than anyone Usyk has faced and hits with incredible power. I think Usyk will have to go through hell to survive the first 5 rounds. Once he does though, i think he will start to pick apart this Tyson and either get a late stoppage or most likely a decision.

Usyk by decision after weathering a ferocious early storm and getting hurt doing it. But 96 Tyson can't sustain it for 12 rounds like he did vs Tucker.

 

I think Tyson wins personally. Tough style for Usyk

 

Usyk would win.

 

Usyk

 

Usyk might show us another recipe for beating Tyson. Can a mover do it?

one point against Usyk — being a southpaw does nothing for him against someone with Tyson’s arsenal. So that’s one advantage gone.

for another, Usyk doesn’t hit hard enough to worry Tyson. After getting clipped a few times, I think Tyson would decide “ok, not much worry here”, and take risks to land. Remember, Tyson has great one punch resistance, and it took a prolonged beating to take him out. Usyk outboxing him isn’t going to knock him out or hurt him.

In Usyk’s favor is chin and recovery. I think he’d be able to weather getting clipped good by Tyson here and there. Maybe he’s not quite Holyfield, but he’s also not in the danger zone that Lewis was.

if Usyk can avoid getting taken out in the first 4-5 rounds while winning some of them, I think he sweeps the second half of the fight to win on the cards.

 

Usyk wins as easily as Holyfield did.

 

Tyson manhandles Usyk in an ugly fight. Tyson’s pressure would be too much for Usyk and he wouldn’t have the chance to box like he usually does. Tyson wins by KO late in the fight.

 

Yep agreed Holyfield was very physically strong at this point in his career after bulking up and was dirty/rough on the inside neutralizing Tyson's inside fighting.

Usyk is an outboxer who uses his exceptional footwork, jab, angles. He's not going to be able to beat Tyson on the inside the way Holyfield beat Tyson.

I do favour Usyk to beat a 1996 version of Tyson who I don't think had it in him to go 12 hard rounds anymore and he was more of a head hunter at this point looking for 1 shot.

I do think a prime Tyson beats Usyk and is one of the worst stylistic match ups for Usyk. But I don't think a 1996 version of Tyson had quite enough left in the tank to get the job done.

But it's still a tough fight for Usyk and if Chisora can give Usyk a rough night then Tyson certainly could even a 1996 version.

 

Tyson loved to dig to the body. If Usky has a weakness, it's the body. It's one of those types of fights were Usyk has to be near perfect. I'll just say, if it goes to decision, Usyk. If a knockout occurs, chances are Tyson is the one landing the big shot. Gun to head, I slightly favor Tyson. But, if the wind changes direction, I may favor Usyk. LOL

 

I think Usyk can exploit the very same flaws that Holyfield did in their fight but probably even better then Holyfield could. Tyson began to fight more straight up after prison and he didn't have the speed to close the distance as well as he could in his prime. Based on that I think Usyk comfortably outboxes him using his angles and pivots to confuse Tyson who wouldn't have the tools to deal with them at that point. Unlike Holyfield who did take some hard shots even from that version of Tyson I don't think Usyk would ever be in a position to take those same shots and even if he gets caught by a stray shot he has shown the chin and defense to take it. Eventually he overwhelms Tyson and gets a late stoppage.

 

Funny enought we speculate what would happen against mike tyson while in reality usyk prefers to stay away from parker and build his "legacy" with jake paul .

 

Usyk. 96 Tyson was a more basic slugger and Usyk would pick him apart. However, I thought Tysons second spell with Giachetti vs Holyfield 2 could have been a much tougher fight. I believe Giachetti to be the best trainer for Tyson style wise after Cus and he showed different levels under him the first time vs Ruddock, Stewart and Tillman. Shame we didn't see the rematch to a proper conclusion.

 

honestly, I’m so annoyed at Paul being a thing that id love to see Usyk get out there with him and hold NOTHING back. Show the world the difference between a world class fighter and a club fighter (about what Paul’s level is).

won’t happen though. They aren’t going to fight.

I like the idea of Paul fighting AJ even better. AJ’s got enough left to decapitate Paul inside of one round.

 

Usyk easily deals with him

Mike Tyson has to close the distance and be in position which Usyk can easily prevent.

After 6 rounds fight becomes a Usyk free for all.

& Tyson Fury butchers 96' Mike Tyson even worse than Usyk