Tyson vs Holyfield November 1991, who wins?

If they had met in 1989 like originally planned, I would side quite heavily with Tyson.
By this stage, it's a lot closer. Mike was hungry and vicious, but he wasn't the same guy from the late 80's. He was neglecting certain things critical for his style.
Holyfield by now had matured into a good champion, and one with confidence.
I remember that at the time, Tyson was favoured by experts by a ratio of probably around 1,8:1, but a fair number were picking Holyfield.

Tyson was pretty active in '91, beating the tough Ruddock twice, and Holyfield was prime here.

I honestly struggle to pick a winner. Certain things about Holyfield would always trouble Tyson. Tyson had slipped a bit, but was hungry as hell and still Mike, for the most part.
It's a terrible shame it never happened in '91, because I think this could have been an absolute classic.

 

somehow I see the same thing, but who knows.. Evander was not as strong as heavyweight as those other 5 years of fighting made him probably more adept at avoiding the size of bigger guys momentum.

 

At the time 1989-91 I thought Tyson would win, but now I think Evander always had something Mike didn't, mental toughness. When they did eventually fight Holyfield had far more damaging fights under his belt and was closer to the end than Tyson. In those two fights Evander man handled him dropping him then stopping him in the first fight then Tyson to avoid the same fate got himself disqualified . The Tyson of 89-91 was mentally the same fighter of 1996, it just hadn't been brought to the surface yet.

 

I always felt that Mike just had a bit too much firepower for the lighter version of Holyfield.

The main counter to this would be that by 91 Tyson was well into neglecting his training and using some of his better defence from his 86-88 period and Holyfield was still unbeaten at that point so would have had confidence in himself.

It would have been a humdinger of a fight and we know Holyfield has the will to win it then becomes a question of does this lighter version of Holyfield keep Tyson off him or does he get steam rolled.

It's not like either is fighting a Super Heavy both were little over the limit so there not facing a far larger and heavier opponent that could stifle there work and negate them. Also Holyfield was a little less focussed early on and could get drawn into a brawl not really the best thing to do against Mike.

So I'm undecided really I would have to edge with Mike but it's like 51/49 in his favour and wouldn't be suprised by Holyfield pulling it out of the bag after a few early scares.

 

Holyfield’s sheer will would have broken Tyson by the later rounds. He would have gradually broke him down as the fight went on and hurt Tyson more than when they actually fought. Holyfield was cut from a different cloth and wouldn’t quit whereas Tyson was mentally weaker. That’s my humble opinion anyway. It would have been an amazing fight regardless.

 

Ive got Tyson. The technical aspect oof Holyfields victory is overrated(and nonexistant back in 91 as Holyfield was missing the strategy and muscle to pull it off back then) compared to the mental aspect.
Tyson in 91 was as hungry determined and battle hardened as he had ever been in his career. Ready to go through hell to win. And had been mentally strengthened even more by the adversity he overcame vs Ruddock and the fact that it was the closest he was gonna come to being the underdog himself with Holyfield being the overconfident one(as seen vs Cooper)

A stark contrast to the soft, help from the referee seeking, frontrunner mike you got when combining ringrust and the expectation of running through a 30/1 underdog.

 

I’ve never been sure of who wins with both at their absolute best or in 1991, to the point that I abstain from the vote here. That year, Holyfield was at the peak of his powers as a Heavy, while Tyson wasn’t. I could just about pick Holyfield on the strength of that, but for one thing - his fight with Bert Cooper. I just can’t get that out of my head. Cooper even looks like Tyson with his back turned, but he sure can’t fight like him.

Too close to call, & too close for mine even if you had the best version of both men.

 

Holy. I don't think any 90s version of Iron Mike beats him.

The 80s Mike is a different matter entirely.

 

I would make Holyfield the slight favorite, although I see the arguments either way.

Holyfield adapted very well to their fight in 96’. People thought he was shot, but he obviously had a lot more left than many expected. He had got physically bigger and stronger, and was able to outmuscle Tyson up close and push him around. He later said he learned from the Bowe fights to be more controlled in his aggression.

A 91’ Holyfield was faster and fresher, but also smaller and more prone to unnecessary brawling. Right when Gil Clancy pointed out that Holyfield was unnecessarily brawling with Bert Cooper, Cooper dropped him. This could obviously hurt you when you’re up against one of the hardest hitters and best finishers ever in Mike.

91’ Tyson was five years younger (in a style not exactly suited for longevity), had better stamina and timing, and was much more active. Holyfield later noted that Tyson had hardly been hit since his comeback and he felt he could exploit that.

Tyson showed a great chin and body attack (which could be key against Evander) in the Ruddock rematch, but again was falling into the bad habits of decreased head movement and going too much for the bombs.

Holyfield always had Tyson in his sights and I can see rising to the occasion and upping his game for Mike. He was also the mentally tougher fighter. So if I had to pick a winner, I would lean towards Holyfield in November 91 in an exciting fight.

I’m also assuming this is if there is no upcoming **** trial hanging over Tyson’s head at the time. I don’t think he was at all mentally ready for the fight and I always questioned if a rib injury was the real reason for the fight not materializing.

 

I once read a survey by The Ring with experts' opinions regarding the course and result of this fight. The vast majority were betting on Tyson then, some expected it to be a repeat of Tyson-Spinks... It was a slightly weaker period of MT and a very good EH even before the fight with Cooper and Holmes. there were those who bet on Holy, almost all of them justified it by Tyson's problems, changes of coaches, trauma after the fight with Buster and life outside the ring.
In my opinion, Tyson would have stopped Evander. Holy in 1991 is a brave warrior, going to exchange blows, looking for war. Not a tactical strongman like in 1996, tiring the rusty, inactive, physically and mentally focused on 3 rounds of the Beast, but a 200-pound fighter willing to take and hit, take and hit. The fight would have been much more spectacular than the wrestling match in 1996, but Tyson would have destroyed Evander.

 

Holyfield would have won he just has Tysons number

Tyson would probably win the first 4 rounds but he ai t knocking out Evander and when the fight goes into the second half Mike will slowly wilt away under the constant pressure