Was there a braver toe to toe brawler than 'blown up' cruiserweight Holyfield? This content is protected Stewart 24 wins 24 KO This content is protected Stewart 32 wins 32 KO This content is protected Mercer 23 wins 17 KO This content is protected Cooper 26 wins 23 KO This content is protected Foreman 69 wins 65 KO
He (nearly) always kept his great technique when brawling, too. A reason why I admire his boxing so much.
One of the most complete fighters I have ever seen at heavyweight. Tremendous heart, excellent combination puncher, fast hands, great chin, great counterpuncher etc.
He fought that way because he had to to win fights, he lacked reach(I don't care what the stats say it's obvious in the ring), big time power and speed. He was good at creating openings in exchanges, and protecting himself. I don't know why people think he just brawled on a whim.
God Bless the Real Deal. Had the skills and technique but was mostly involved in fan friendly fights and was fun to watch, even when he started using his head more in later fights. A real ATG.
I highly doubt he was on the juice when he fought Qawi in one the greatest fights of the 80's. He noticeably got bigger after the first Bowe fight and was especially ripped against Moorer in their first fight. Unfortunately a lot of guys were and probably still are finding ways to cheat. It's no different from fighters from the past that used meth or loaded gloves. It sucks but just like in any other profession, a lot of people don't mind bending the rules to get ahead. I actually think he was a much better fighter before he got all jacked. Same with James Toney.
He was a cheater through and through. The guy was known for having bad stamina in the amateurs and suddenly fights one of the fastest 15 rounders in his 12th fight. If he didnt want people to question his entire career he shouldnt have been a poster boy for cheating in and out of the ring for most of his career.
I don’t buy the steroids argument. Even Lennox Lewis gained 32lbs of lean muscle during his career but nobody mentions this, just look how thick his chest, arms and shoulders became. Anybody who thinks that only Holyfield was juicing is very naive. It was a level playing field for sure.