Why do people think Holyfield could beat Ali?

I have never ever heard anyone say this tbh. Not once.

 

I'm not sure where you read this, but I haven't really felt many fight fans believe Holyfield could defeat Ali.

Ali probably enjoys the greatest win/lose ratio in fantasy head-to-head match-ups. Personally, I'd favour a prime Muhammad Ali against every heavyweight in history, from John L. Sullivan to Wladimir Klitschko.

I'd say Ali would give Holyfield a boxing lesson and take a wide UD victory.

 

"The Greatest" doesn't mean "impossible to beat" does it? I mean, favoring him to beat Ali is very different from saying he "could" beat him, which is quite rationally conceivable, as far as I'm concerned. And Lewis is being used as what point here? I think we should consider Holyfield being in his prime and fighting Lewis to have never happened and also Lewis is an elite boxer.

A fighter past his prime, giving up quite a disparity in size, as well as age, being out-boxed by an elite boxer with these advantages is not very telling about anything is it? :huh What are you talking about exactly? I consider Holyfield as having a fair chance against anyone in history, like I do Larry Holmes. It doesn't mean I favor them though. It should be rather easily conceivable that a prime Holyfield could beat a prime Ali one of five or ten or however the hell many times...Anyway, whatever, man. What got you started on this thread? Did you see someone actually favoring Holyfield over Ali or just suggest he "could" win, giving you indignant outrage at the heresy or something?

 

lewis and holyfield would both beat that fraud

 

Holyfield's age caught up with him by the time he finally got to Lewis. He fought like a zombie in the first fight, but had a solid strategy in the rematch. He took the fight to Lewis the second time, but could only fight in spurts. He couldnt keep up the pace for three minutes a round. Based on Holyfield's performance against Lewis in the second fight, I believe a prime Holyfield would beat Lewis, possibly knocking him out. Holyfield's age lost the rematch for him, regardless of Lewis' skill.

Holyfield doesn't beat Ali, though. No way. Unless he fights the the 1980 version of Muhammad Ali that Larry Holmes butchered.

 

I don't know any of those "many fans" who favour Holyfield to beat Ali.

I think Ali would win a clear decision, but not without Holyfield having his strong moments.

 

Cant see I've ever heard anyone say that, apart from die hard Holyfield fans or people who hate Ali.

Lewis did a decent enough job with Holyfield, Ali wouldn't find it any harder.

 

Holy is a live underdog. He will be there at the final bell. He has the left hook. He has Frazier's determination and will to win. He has many traits that make this a very hard fight for Ali.

If I had to pick 5 HWs who could upset Ali then Holy would be on the list.

 

I can't see a prime Holyfield beating the Ali between the years 1963 - 1975.

 

Your logic about if Lewis could outbox Holy is ******ed so I can only assume you are flaming.

If Doug Jones and Henry Cooper almost beat Clay...atsch

 

First of all, Holyfield that fought Lewis was 37 years old. He was still a good fighter but past his best. I would favour that version of Holy against 36 year old Ali that fought Spinks.

Both Ali and Holyfield had long careers that we could cut to a pieces to identify them as a fighters. So we have 1965-1967 and 1970-1975 Ali against 1990-1992 and 96-99 Holyfield.

I think that any older versions of Ali would have trouble with Evander. Holy could box, he could be rough and dirty. He was durable and had huge heart. Ali was quicker but I don't think that he had the power to KO him. Holyfield had respectable power, not one-punch-KO type but good. I could imagine young Ali to eat some good counter and go down for the count. Cooper did it, so I think that Evander could do that to.

Norton and Frazier did huge damage on Ali's body, Holyfield wasn't as good bodypuncher like them, but he had good skills in that departament. But also you have to look at his skill to tie his rival to nulify their actions especially when Holy was older.

I think that Holyfield from first Tyson fight wins 1 from 5 against Ali that beat Cleveland Williams. But he is 2 to 3 against 1970-1975 Ali.

Holyfield from the first two fights with Bowe is 2-3 against prime Ali and 3-2 against Ali that fought in FOTC.

 

That's like using Holyfield's knockdown at the hands of Bert Cooper as a yardstick. Anyone can get tagged by a good punch. Doug Jones was a tricky customer per se.

 

:blood...What?

 

I wasn't anywhere that anyone did.