holyfield vs ibeabuchi

I think Holyfield out toughs him, if we're talking, prime for prime. Ike was there to be hit and Holyfield had enough movement, strength and fortitude to get the win.

 

Holy wins a great fight on points, 8-4/9-3 margin

Wouldve been a good fight had it happened in 98, does anyone know if they ever sparred?

 

Holy wins pretty wide decision in very entertaining fight.

 

I disagree with that, I think Evander wins but it isnt a wide decision, what will sneak out the win is Evanders ability to box, Ike is a plodding banger but if you stand in there with him he will catch and counter right along with you.

He will hurt Evander in this fight and the moment he does Evander will adjust make Ike come to him and counter him as he moves forward.
This will be an all out back and fourth war I really cant even say its a for sure win for Holyfield Ike could punch and take a punch, the klitschkos are very lucky this man has been kept locked away

 

If the fought in 98 or 99, Holyfield gets TKO'd in the 10th or 11th in a war.

1991-1993 Holyfield probably squeaks out a disputed split decision over 1998 or 1999 Ike. Had he kept fighting, I think Ike's prime years would have been 2000 to 2002 or something like that. Impossible to do a prime for prime between the two as a result.

 

Lennox did not stop him Ike would not, only chance for Ike is the fact that Holy brawled more than he needs to, he was much better boxer than Ike.

 

That was more of a styles thing than anything else. A younger, fresher Holyfield got knocked out by Riddick Bowe a few years before he fought Lewis. Lewis almost certainly hit harder than Riddick, but Lennox chose to box Holyfield rather than slug it out with him.

If Lennox did slug it out and come out guns blazing on Holyfield like he did on Golota for instance, he could have stopped him. But Lennox would rather not take the risk, so he simply chose to outbox him.

 

C'mon now Golota never was Holyfield no one in history would walk over Holyfield like Lewis walked over Golota!!!

 

Not saying he could have dispatched Holyfield in one round, but had Lennox decided to slug it out and trade with Holyfield? He'd stop him in the mid to late rounds. But why risk losing in a firefight when you can box your way to a decision?

Lennox wasn't the type to gamble like that. But he did have more than enough firepower to stop Holyfield if he wanted to, but he was content to outbox him.

The Riddick thing I brought up to show Holyfield wasn't indestructible. He could be hurt and stopped. Just because Lennox chose not to fight in a way that would get him the stoppage doesn't mean that nobody could do it. Bowe didn't hit as hard as Lewis and still did it, mainly by brawling in close.

It's far from out of the question that Holyfield would survive a guy with Ike's power, size, workrate, and ability to cut the ring off, especially in the late 90s.

 

"Fresher"?

Holyfield's opponents to that point at heavy:

Ray Mercer
Michael Moorer
Riddick Bowe
Alex Stewart
Riddick Bowe
Larry Holmes
Bert Cooper
George Foreman
James Douglas
Seamus McDonagh
Alex Stewart
Adilson Rodrigues
Michael Dokes
Pinklon Thomas
James Tillis

 

Depends on which Holyfield. Late 90s and early 2000s Holyfield loses to Ibeabuchi, but a fresher version beats him on points. Better boxing skills, ring generalship, foot speed, movement, handspeed, and timing. Plus he had the toughness and chin to survive rough patches brought on by Ibeabuchi's power punching. Ibeabuchi was damn good, though, but I don't think he's on the level of somebody like Riddick Bowe.

 

Hoyfield by Points

 

Great fight, Holyfield takes a close points decision, as mentioned above the Klitschkos are lucky Ike couldn't stick around.

 

Holyfield would school him.