Holyfield would always talk about how he would box and outbox his opponents, then he’d get hit and start a brawl. For examples of this see: ANY HOLYFIELD FIGHT. ESP vs Bowe though. If he stayed true to form Deontay has a 50/50 shot to lay him out.
Another vote for Holyfield. A prime Evander would be able to pick Wilder apart at will. He's not some old geezer that's gonna die of a heart attack if he goes too hard, and he was fast, accurate and had a good chin. Technically he's miles ahead.
Would be a good battle. Remember, Holyfield got rocked by Alex Stewart so there every chance he ends up getting shaky or even knocked down here. Holyfield, warrior heart, would fight his way back and have Wilder lookin desperate at times. Wilder starts to lose focus and try s to drill Holyfield but finds himself getting beaten to the punch. After 12 rough rounds Evander is awarded a majority decision.
Evander would have to get inside on Wilder, that means he's going to get into exchanges with what very well may be the hardest puncher in history. The territory in front of Deontay is expensive, I think Wilder is a 70-30 favorite , Wilder ain't Bert Cooper
I wouldn't pay to watch many fights but if this could happen I'd want to see it. Holyfield, is the most technically sound heavyweight I've seen, his only "weakness" (it's what makes his fights so good) is that he fights when he gets hit instead of boxes. Wilder, IMO, is the freakiest athlete ever in the heavyweight division. His length, strength, power, speed, and stamina, sets him apart. I think it would be an action fight all the way. Wilder, IMO, is a better boxer than given credit for and does things that heavyweights don't do. He creates angles with his speed and length that heavyweights haven't seen. He can close distance faster, or be off to the left or right faster than any heavyweight I've seen, and hit his opponent with a big punch. In addition, he punches hard and he punches hard for 12 rounds, he doesn't lose his punch. Holyfield would have his chin down and behind his shoulder and wouldn't be an easy one punch knockout. I could see Holyfield fighting a near perfect fight and winning a decision or I could see Wilder hurting him round after round until it is stopped. This would be two well conditioned fighters with a lot of pride and different strengths meeting, a lot could happen but it probably wouldn't be boring.
A very interesting fight to me and a shame it can't ever happen. In my mind Holyfield needs to get close because he is the better fighter there, he has more weapons at that range. He needs to be on Wilder's chest and turning him to bring his hook to work, up and down. Trying to box Wilder would be a bad plan,in my eyes. Holyfield wasn't great at not getting hit with jabs; getting hung up on the end of the jab, letting Wilder have room to use his feet to take his time to line up the shot he wants...Wilder likes to take his time. If Holyfield really presses him will he fold, or will he adapt and take his time in a hurry?
You're the first one to make Wilder a favorite. Even if Wilder did hit harder than Tyson, Lewis, Mercer, old Foreman, Cooper I think the question is, how much harder? Would it be hard enough to do what they couldn't....stop Holyfield?
