Did Holyfield lose to Byrd cause he was old, or was Byrd's style just all wrong for him?

Holyfield tore his rotator cuff in the first round. He had surgery later the following week. But the shoulder injury plagued him for years after. He only fought twice over the next four years, and lost both times. When he recovered, he went on one last tear through the division.

 

Holyfield’s shoulder was impaired.Toney beat a better version of Holyfield.

 

Plus he was 41 years old and a decade past being prime...

 

Idk , he may have struggled with Byrd at his best. Not saying Byrd would have beaten him but his style would probably have given him trouble, Holyfield would have gotten a decision win but not overly impressive.

 

Didn't Vitali also tearr his rotator cuff against Byrd and was forced to retire from the fight inbetween rounds? Just coincidence or maybe somehow fighting against Byrd's particular style just has that effect on fighters?

 

i doubt that's a coincidence. I think it has to do with making your opponent miss. Didn't Liston injure his shoulder because he kept missing Ali?

 

Yes.

I always thought it had something to do with Byrd fighting out of the southpaw stance, and he'd open his right glove and catch his opponent's jab and push it aside. If you extend your left arm - like you're jabbing - and while it's extended have someone push your left while it's extended, you could really mess up your shoulder.

 

Because he was old. A prime Holyfield would have kicked the living **** out of Byrd.

 

Old, injured and all wrong.
Holyfield struggled when he had to chase you down.

Holyfield is my favourite HW of all time and the most technically complete imo but

He looked awkward against Holmes, awkward against czyz awkward against bean.
He didn't like having to chase you down

He would have had major problems with a young tucker,young Carl Williams a young tubbs

 

Agree with this. Age had to be a factor but even so, Byrd was a really good fighter that made a lot of people, not just Holy, struggle.