What Heavyweights in History would you pick to stop Prime Holyfield?

Both were past it.

Last time Tyson probably trained the right way was for Spinks. Not just physically, but preparing mentally for a fight...which you need first. Even Pre-Prison, against Ruddock, he didn't look that great. Lack of head-movement, not enough combos...Jab wasn't all there...lack of body-shots, etc.

Tyson actually hurt Holyfield bad to the body in their fight but at that point, Tyson was so far gone with knowing what to do he failed to follow up properly to keep Holyfield in pain and keep his air from coming back.
Younger Tyson continues to blast the body when he sees where he hurts you, then follows up to the head, then back down to the body...all while putting combinations together. Pin-point accuracy in vital locations that was taught to him. Something else that was noted as being on the decline post-Spinks. If you don't practice it, you lose it.

Thats said, we are still talking about Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield. Bowe beat the crap out of him too and Holyfield didn't get knocked out until the 3rd fight.
He was really something else when talking about taking punishment.

Now there were fights before where he was in trouble but still came back to win. It's like he had 9 lives.

Seriously, people like to hype up some fighters with their toughness and heart but I would put Holyfield up against any of them.

 

A young Vitali Klitschko, prior to his shoulder surgery, he had devastating one punch power, plus underrated speed. Holyfield's tendency to go to war could be very problematic against Vitali. Sure, he could use his skill and movement, but would he?

Lennox Lewis, if circumstances or his mood make him go for the knockout.

Young Foreman, again if Holyfield doesn't fight smart, he could get KO'd.

 

Yes but he changed trainers in the second Bowe fight to Emanuel Steward. I cant see the tempo of a Tyson Holyfield fight (against an 88 Tyson), resembling anything close to his fight with Foreman, meaning he boxed smart in spots against Foreman because he could but he still fought stupid in spots as well. Holyfield was very easy to engage into a slugfest at that time. It was Emanuel Steward who convinced Holyfield he needed to hold back and box more in the second fight, and he still brawled for a good portion of it.

 

Always found that odd.

But that was him. Even in fights, he would look like he can be taken, then suddenly, burst out with energy fighting back.

 

He brought a good strategy against Tyson as he probably always would have considering its a fight he wanted for years but it was far from perfect execution; he still slugged freely at points, took rounds off, and got himself into trouble he didn't have to be in. But Holyfield at his best is the type fighter that can himself out of trouble as quickly as he stumbled into it.

I just haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe any version of Tyson could ever overcome the Read Deal, 91 or 96. Mike was always inconsistent himself; one punch head hunting and defensive laspes are nothing new to him in competitive fights. Interesting to note that his hardest fight in his brief accepted by fan prime years was against a tough minded boxer/puncher in Tillis whom he also failed to finish, certainly food for thought.

 

Good post.. Welcome to the forum:good

 

It didnt need to be a perfect execution thats the point. Tyson was far removed from the force he once was. You only have to see Holyfield hurt and staggered by the examples I gave you to know that Tyson was a better finisher than all those guys, so its conceiveable Tyson hurts Holy with his power and then finishes him once hes hurt.
Obviously, since its Evander I dont say that with a 100% conviction, but asked who I would be betting prime for prime, Im taking Tyson by mid round knockout. Holyfield wasnt smart enough at that point to restrain himself from getting into a slugfest, he had done it with everyone else.

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl

 

Holyfield was one tough SOB....I'd LOVE to have seen him fight a prime Marciano!!!

 

You mean the Sullivan who was outboxed by this man:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7ZXB7Gjw1E[/ame]

 

Omfg :rofl

Mcgrain,

Come take a look at Peter Courtney, epsecially at 0:46. he might be the worst fighter ever captured on film. He joins Big Bill Tate and Keene Simmons.

 

Corbett looks silly there but in his defense that was just a boxing exhibition for the cameras. He looks better against Fitzsimmons and even in sparring against Tunney and McCoy as an old man.

 

They showed the same clip on ESPN Classics recently and they had it as a legit fight, and Corbett's opponent as New Jersey champion or some such.

The fight did end in a KO, so it wasn't all fun and games in any case.

EDIT: The fight isn't listed in Boxrec.

 

That was a real old Dokes a prime dokes had dynamite in his righthand and was pretty fast and elusive to,me thinks Prime Dokes would have beat Evander and had a shot for the KO if he didnt get ko'd of course.

 

Courtney was a joke in his own time, that never won a meaningful fight. He did claim to be NJ champion but that is all it was-a claim. The fight was held in a small booth(3 sided I think) with two min rounds. Corbett ko'd Peter on cue at the end of the fight(film).