Could Holyfield Have Being A Dominant Force In the 1970s?

I think he would be there with the best, but for me it's unlikely that he dominates, as in getting the better of all the other top guys. Tbf, he didn't in the 90's either.

 

He definitely would be one of the top 10, even top 5.

 

Not dominant, but right up there with the best of them.

 

Depends on when he comes around and how. Frazier in '72, '73 I think should be very doable. Ali was in so so shape for most of his 70's defences and also rapidly declining, so if a peaking Holy gets to him...

Foreman is the most stylistically suited for him of the top 70's fighters imo, so if he'd get to him before Ali does he could definitely become champ. A fight with Norton could be one of the most memorable of the 70's. Hell, all of these are fantastic fights, since Holy would mix it up with anyone at times in a fight.

 

NO.
Even if Holyfield (Bowe ll) fights FOTC Frazier, Holmes (Norton), Norton (Ali l), Foreman (Frazier l or Norton), and Muhammad Ali; if Holyfield appeared in every fight in the Bowe ll edition - he wouldn't be a dominant force.

 

He loses to peak Frazier, Ali, and Foreman, and beats Norton in a competitive fight.

 

Yeah, not only is there nowhere to hide from Norton over 15, Holy wasn't a guy who wanted to hide over 15. These two would go at it and I think it would be epic.

 

No body is going to be a dominant force in the 70's IMO. The styles of Ali, Frazier and Foreman are too different from each other for any one fighter to dominate all these guys.

It all depends on when Holyfield is matched up vs guys. If he fights Foreman pre-Ziare, he gets stopped.

If he fights George after Zaire, he probably survives the early rounds vs a measured Foreman and then wins a decision.

Similarly, he probably loses a close decision to Frazier prior to 1974 and then beats him post.

The only way Holyfield "dominates" the 70's is if he turns pro around 1971, starts fighting the top guys around 1974-75. He probably matches up vs Foreman or Frazier around 1975 and wins.

He then fights Ali and probably loses a close controversial decision, wins a rematch, goes 2-1 vs Norton. He beats Bugner, Lyle, Shavers etc. but if he has an off night, he might get upset vs someone like Lyle. Not likely though.

Then he fights Holmes circa 1978-79 and given the wear and tear from fighting the top guys vs a fresh Holmes, Holmes probably decisions him.

 

Ali and Holmes would be more tactical fights for Holy, I think, but Frazier, Foreman and Norton would be all out action. Madre de Dios when he quickly finds out that there's no way to even get a minute's rest against a peak Frazier, only to open the doors to hell and step in... Would be FOTC quality.

 

Nope.

Loses to Ali, Holmes, Frazier depending on the version.

Norton/Holyfield is 50/50.

Foreman it depends what version of Holyfield fights him if it's the gung ho Holyfield of the early 90s he gets stopped. If it's the smarter version of Holyfield who bulked up I could see him winning.

Holyfield would be around the top 5 but never number 1.