1988 Tyson vs 1990 Holyfield

I'm sort of back-and-forth on this, as well as the November 1991 matchup (both Holyfield-Tyson and Mayweather-Pacquiao came 5 years too late)

Holyfield was viewed as shopworn at the time they fought due to up-and-down performances and concerns about his health in the first Moorer fight and third Bowe fight. But Holyfield adapted very well. He got physically bigger/strong and said that he learned from the Bowe fights to control his aggression and brawling. Before that, he would constantly brawl when unnecessary. I can see a younger Holyfield doing this and paying the price against Tyson. Bodyshots could be key. Bowe repeatedly hurt Holyfield to the body, Foreman momentarily doubled him over, Moorer appeared to briefly hurt him at the end of a round with a body shot. None of them could finish like Tyson.

On the other hand, Holyfield might have always had Tyson's number. He was always damn near obsessed with beating Tyson and it's not hard to see him always raising his game for Mike. Tyson was more prone to frustration and impatience. Holyfield had the type of tools needed against Tyson. Boxing skills from the outside, good uppercut, and the type of fighter to stand his ground instead of just using too much movement and being too defensive. He could outwork him inside, where Tyson was prone to being inactive.

 

I really don’t get this forum sometimes. Most people pick guys like Louis, foreman, Liston and Lewis to beat Holyfield because he tended to slug it out and that’s a bad idea against power punchers, but Holyfield gets away with it against Tyson who also has power but was much faster than the guys I listed. Im favoring Holyfield here but a lot of posters are very inconsistent with they’re arguments.

 

Tyson by KO. He was at the peak of his powers. Holyfield would be coming off gruelling wars with Michael Dokes and Alex Stewart. Evander looked great against Douglas in 1990 because an out of shape and satiated (by winning the title and getting $24 M to defend against Holyfield) Douglas layed down the first time he took a decent shot.

 

I wanna say Tyson wins a close decision. I don't think Holy gets stopped, and I think he puts up a good fight

 

Tyson dec in a fight with a lot of wrestling.

 

Guys, Evander was way faster in 91, believe me. Evander's last fight at peak skills was against Mercer. Watch the tape. After the 3rd Bowe fight Evander NEVER looked the same, and he went on to fight Tyson twice, Lennox twice, Moorer II, 3 x's with Ruiz and, oh yeah, Rahman just after that fight (III'rd Bowe).

Tyson didn't have a jab before prison in 91, and unless he learned to throw one while in prison, which of course he didn't, he was gonna' be easy pickin's for the Real Deal. Word...

 

Tyson gets him in 8, but Holy makes a very good account of himself.

I think Holy started peaking in 1991, so about then and right up to their actual fights I choose him to hammer Mike to the canvas every time.