1991 - Holyfield/Tyson - Who Wins?

I don't necessarily buy into the notion that Holyfield 'warred' more in the early 90s. Yeah he warred with Cooper but that was because he wanted to finish him early and he didn't respect Cooper enough at the time. Other than Cooper, only Stewart the 1st time and Dokes were fights where I'd say he 'warred'.

He looked great in his first two fights against Tillis and Pinklon Thomas - in neither one did he take any substantial amount of punishment. He blasted Rodrigues and McDonagh out of there relatively quickly. The Holmes fight is an outlier because Holyfield suffered a bad cut halfway through the fight and was careful the rest of the way (although he didn't take much punishment there either).

Most importantly, the late 80s, early 90s Holyfield did show an ability to box and execute a gameplan. He did it against Douglas, and he did it again against Foreman. Against Douglas he boxed beautifully and used his jab, and patiently waited for his counter right hand. And against Foreman in 91 - Holyfield boxed Foreman fairly brilliantly I thought (his most underrated performance in my opinion) - He used his feet, jabbed, landed combinations, and won 9 of the 12 rounds decisively.

So I don't agree with the notion that as soon as Holyfield would get hit by Tyson that he'd revert and turn it into a war. Holyfield didn't need anyone to tell him that Mike Tyson was the most devastating heavyweight in the world at the time (maybe ever in his prime). He most certainly would have had a gameplan and not just needlessly warred with Tyson. Although his granite chin and massive willpower certainly could have allowed him to handle Tyson's shots.

But I do agree that the fight in 91 would have been more exciting - primarily because Tyson was better then - could go 12 hard rounds, attacked the body much more in 91, and would have been more motivated and focused taking on an unbeaten Holyfield. Holyfield would have been better too, he would have used his feet more instead of clinches to contain Tyson, and he threw a lot more punches in 91.

In either case, it would have been a great fight and I damn Elijiah Tillery to this day for injuring Tyson's ribs - thus preventing the boxing public from knowing how that fight would have turned out.

 

He would box Tyson more because he would have respected Mike's power. You would think if there was one fight in Holyfield's whole career where it might behoove him to box more that it would be Tyson. Don't you think Holyfield would realize that? I believe they asked Holyfield after the Bert Cooper fight about Tyson and he said he wouldn't have fought Tyson the way he fought Cooper. I tend to believe him.

On the other hand, even when they would slug it out, I think Holyfield had the chin and willpower to avoid getting KO'd. Remember, Tyson called Holyfield the best counter puncher he had seen. Tyson was fairly open to getting hit when he would come in so I think Holyfield would take advantage. Also, a prime Holyfield would have had even more opportunities to counter given he was able to throw 5, 6 punch combos the whole round in 91 (where as in 96 he had to pace himself more).

I think Tyson would have more opportunities to connect on Holyfield, but so would Holy on Mike. Both were better in 91 than in 96.

I could see Tyson winning no question, but I still favor Holyfield by 12th round TKO if I was betting on the fight.

 

Tie voting here, holyfield ahead by a few on the classic forum

My top 3 missed heavyweight fights of all time that I wish would have happened

1. 1991 - Tyson-Holyfield
2. 1993 - Bowe-Lewis
3. 1977-78 - Foreman-Holmes

 

Tie vote here
Holyfield ahead on the classic forum by 8 votes

One thing that needs to be mentioned is that had this fight come off in 91 like it was supposed to, both Tyson and Holyfield's stock would be much higher.

If Holyfield wins, he would have been thought of as a legitimate HW and great fighter much sooner. It also would have legitimzed the division more so (assuming Tyson still goes to prison in 92). Bowe would be elevated as well, beating Holyfield in 92, who had just beaten Tyson in 91.

If Tyson wins, his stock would be much higher. The win over a prime Holyfield would unquestionably be the best win of his career. Holyfield would probably be Mike's best, most enteraining fight to date (other than Douglas), and thus even in defeat Holyfield's stock would be elevated. Holyfield would not have slinked away with a loss to Tyson in 91, he showed too much resiliency in his career. He still would have been a major player with in the HW division following the loss to Tyson.

Both guys stock would rise with this fight