Holyfield vs Tyson 1

Bowe Vs. Golota 2 was certainly a bigger "war" than Holyfield Vs. Tyson 1.
But because of the bigger names, because Mike Tyson was knocked out, because of the Holyfield Vs. Tyson was twice suspended (the first time was a defeat by Douglas, the second time he was imprisoned), this fight was chosen as the fight of the year.
I also think that the disqualification factor (again) eliminated the Bowe Vs. Golota 2 for fight of the year.

 

Mike was roided up too. He was 3kgs heavier than Holyfield, while being 11cms shorter, with pure muscle mass.

 

Yep, great fight and historically significant.
Not sure I'd agree with the assessment that either beats Ali, as a blanket rule. There are certainly incarnations I'd pick of Ali to best these versions of Holy and Mike.

 

Marco Antonio Barrera vs Kennedy McKinney should've been the fight of the year for 1996 that was the best fight that year IMO.

Riddick Bowe vs Andrew Golota 2 was too one sided and ended in a DQ.

Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson 1 should've been the upset of the year not fight of the year IMO.

 

This ^^

 

Great fight and one of my favorite fights! Very underrated fight, all out war.

 

I think Tyson vs Holyfield was set up but Tyson got an injury and Bert Cooper was a late replacement.

 

Gatti vs Rodriguez was better aswell.

Tyson vs Holyfield 1 got the nod onthe base of the event.While it was a good fight and entertaining to watch it had a lot of mauing and clinching and reseting of the action unlike all others mentioned.

 

Cooper was actually a replacement of a replacement.
fRANCESCO dAMIANI WAS THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT BUT GOT REPLACED ASWELL AFTER HE SPRAINED HIS ANGKLE RUNNING.

 

Every notable athlete of the past fifty years has been a peds experiment.

 

That's one reason I'm not a big lover of the fight either.

Too much clinching with not enough consistent action.

Watching it live I guess without knowing what was going to happen would probably be a better experience.

But i wasn't born then so I don't have that memory of the fight.

So for me whilst as a event and upset its very historical.

But as for the fight in terms of action ? I've seen alot better.

You said Gatti vs Rodriguez which is a good shout.

But also Kelley vs Gainer 1 was a better fight that year also.

There's definitely 3 fights that year I would have ahead of Tyson vs Holyfield 1

Barrera/McKinney
Gatti/Rodriguez
Kelley/Gainer 1

 

As others said both Bowe vs Golota fights were better aswell in terms of pure action.
The MSG incident from the first got event of the year and the return bout was on PPV and highly anticipated aswell.Unlike the first time Bowe actually came in shape and with spite in him but he just was too past it by then regardless of shape.

 

The issue was in the 2nd Bowe/Golota fight was that Bowe lost too much weight too quickly.

Losing 50 pounds in 8 weeks is certainly not healthy.

So whilst Bowe was 235 pounds in the rematch vs Golota which was the same weight he was against Holyfield in their 1st fight.

Physically he didn't look at the same he looked too skinny and frail looking.

Not to mention as you said he was already past his best by that point. Just compare his speech after the 2nd Golota fight and then compare it to his prime it's night/day difference.

Bowe was slurring his words like Ali was in the latter stages of his career.