1991 - Holyfield/Tyson - Who Wins?

Tyson just didn't employ enough strategy to be able to beat Holyfield. But who knows? He seemed to use a greater variety of punches in 1991 including using the right hand more (see Ruddock fights). Obviously Holy is an incomparably superior fighter to Ruddock but Tyson using the right hand more is a great sign for him. After prison, Tyson mostly overused the loopy left - whenever he called upon his right hand (Holyfield, Golota, Botha, etc) it served him well. Holy is the more reliable on so I pick Holy but I'm not putting money on it.

 

I think a lot of people underestimate Tyson even in 1991. Tyson use to fight Holyfield in their younger amateur days and I'm sure Tyson would train for Holyfield unlike he did for Buster Douglas. He knew how good Evander was.

Holyfield was such a stubborn son of a ***** that I think if Tyson didn't really beat him down early, Tyson might have become discouraged. The thing that the pre 1990 Tyson had going for him was that he hadn't lost yet. He hadn't faced any real adversity besides the Bruno fight, and we all know what happened in the Douglas fight.

So I think their are some questions, like is Tyson going to be in shape? And how will he handle Evander's pressure? Will he fold?

Tyson was a wreck at this point in his life, but he was still a very dangerous fighter. I'd predict Holyfield, but I'd say Tyson has a very good chance as well. It wouldn't be a beating like Tyson took in 96.

 

To be honest, I know for sure that the first 5 rounds were competitive (1 & 5 to Tyson; 2,3,4 to Holy) and I'm pretty sure that 6 & 7 were also competitive save for that off balance KD. Holy won it with his brilliant strategy, chin & heart, etc but the headbutts did concuss Tyson to slow him down more (headbutts are far worse than punches) and make him less competitive. It was NOT a one sided beating for majority of the fight.

 

You're right, and in round 5, Tyson really took it Holyfield, slowing him down with shots to the body. I imagine a 91' version of Tyson could do that for an entire fight, but he'd definately need his A' game.

 

Holy probally beats Tyson anytime after 1989

 

True, especially about the loopy left.

I think the pluses for Tyson in '91 would be that physically he was a more capable fighter than '96, while Holyfield was lighter on muscle and probably would be fighting more balls-to-the-wall than smart as he did in '96. I think it took the Bowe loss for Holy to really strategize more in there.

The minuses are the obvious - Holyfield's fervent belief in being able to beat Tyson ran through his whole career, so he'd train and fight like a demon always against Mike. Plus he'd also be younger, and quicker with his reactions and busier with his workrate, along with his usual merits of chin, stamina and combinations.

Definitely a competative fight, but I do think in '91 I would've been backing Holyfield to get the win on points.

 

he always beats the post prison tyson yes. but in 1991, i think it was a 50-50 fight. no way i see holyfield stopping a top condition tyson. tyson could only be stoped when he was out of shape (or outclassed like against lewis in his twilight years)

If holyfiled haD of thought tyson like he did with bowe first time around, I see tyson winning

80's tyson would of been too much holy but MIKE IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD NEVER HAVE ANNIHALTED EVANDER VERY EARLY. ITS A MYTH THAT A PRIME MIKE WOULD KO'D HOLY WITHIN 5 ROUNDS. BOLLOCKS
IT WOULD OF TOOK A SUPREME EFFORT FROM A PRIME TYSON TO BEAT EVANDER. I SAY TYSON LATE OR ON POINTS

EVANDER WOULD OF GIVEN ANY HEAVYWEIGHHT IN HISTORY PROBLEMS

 

:happy

 

yep.

 

DEFO A PICK EM

 

I personally think it took the Riddick Bowe fights for Holyfield to strategize like he did in 1996. In 1991 you had a Tyson that was more active, younger and hungry to regain his titles. In 1996 he had that loopey left, not enough of a right hand and not enough of a body attack and ring rust that was never shaken off.

 

Truer words were never spoken. I recall watching the McNeely fight and thinking that Tyson was not the same man. Ultimately it ended bad for Pete, but he was able to move Tyson in a way that a tomato can never would have before prison.

 

Prime for prime, Tyson wins.

 

only version of tyson that can beat holyfield is 87-88 version and even then it would have been diffcult but at least tyson wasnt a headhunter then.