Never saw the big deal about Povetkin. When he held the WBA ‘regular’ title, he defended against: 42-year-old Cedric Boswell, who I’m pretty sure nobody considered to be a contender Marko Huck, a cruiserweight fighting at heavy for the first time (majority decision that was pretty heavily disputed and reffed very heavily in Povetkin’s favor at that) 40-year-old Hasim ‘Past His Sell-By’ Rahman Andrzej “Dionne” Warwick, a never-was if there ever was A lot of his opponents were very carefully hand-picked for name value while being past viable. Someone mentioned him beating Duhaupas, who literally flew up on day-of-fight notice and had to borrow shoes. Yeah, fair fight there. I just don’t see it.
Tyson wasn't peak, but was still a formidable heavyweight and certainly was regarded as one of the best heavies of 95-97. Beating a 96 Tyson would be an outstanding win on any resume.
Povetkin was fairly solid and one of the better HWs during the Klitschko Doldrum Era but he tended to be quite formularized in his approach, without adaptation, and relied heavily on those firm fundamentals and being the fitter man in there. It also helped that he was as hard as a coffin nail. Holyfield had more variety in his arsenal and had the better engine, IMO. He was equally as tough, so this would go the distance in what I reckon would be a good fight - But it's one that Holyfield takes on a comfortable points decision.
Lol the things these people say make me think they don't even watch boxing. I seen somebody say Bob Fitizsimmons could beat Lennox Lewis. A 160 pound boxer could beat Lennox Lewis. I seen one person say since the 6'3 230 pound Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson then the 5'10 180 pound Marciano could do it. I see people say the 170 pound Gene Tunney could baet Foreman since the 6'2 215 pound Jimmy Young did. Evander Holyfield fought and beat better opponents in comparison to Povetkin. Holyfield TKO's a prime Povetkin in the middle rounds.
Holyfield roughs him up imo, uses the jab, counters left hook, get inside and get dirty, while Povetkin is a front foot fighter and can fight on the inside, he could only really fight clean and didn’t like it when roughed up, don’t think Holyfield should go punch for punch with him on the inside, but grab him push him off and get punches off instead.
