1993 Holyfield v Tyson of spinks fight

I agree, the 88 version of Tyson beats any version of Holyfield, likely by KO.

 

Yep, its annoying how badly people underrate Mike these days, short memories, its as if the man never had those prime yrs in the 80s, they focus on the 90s too much, were even as early as beating Bruno in their rematch, he looked like a different fighter, he was never the same.
The Tyson of 87/88 was like the daddy of the 90s version, completely different animal.

 

Very valid point made! Bakc in the day, Tyson was not really into all that intimidation stuff. Sometimes during staredowns, Tyson would not initiate a stare down or would simply look away from his opponent!

Intimidation or not being intimidated only gets you so far! The Tyson who fought Spinks was a better fighter than Holyfield has been during any stage of his career!

Yes, a bold statement, but that's what I think!

 

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she messed tyson up bad.

 

:nonoNo, Holyfield always wins, he took tremendous shots from Foreman, Bowe and Lewis yet fought back, he takes Tyson's beat and stretches him during the middle rounds[quotnoe=TIGEREDGE;4676790]the holyfield of 87-92 gets destroyed against 88 tyson because he couldnt avoid or handle exchanges in the right way. it would be a great fight for a few rounds until tyson connects with a bomb and believe me mike finsihes it. there would be no repeat of bowe 1 or bert cooper

But the 1993 Holyfield under manny is a different proposition. he was more composed and discplined. i really see it being a close fight with tyson coming on strong late to finish or get a verdict

isnt it funny how both fighters were never every anywhere near there best after there best performances.[/quote]

 

This was Tysons peak, his timing and defense was impecabble. Look at the shot he knocked Spinks out with, his opponents movements were timed perfectly, this is when a fighter is at his peak. Tyson was pretty tough at this time. I think he stops Holyfield.

 

Yes. And for all Holyfield's heart & skills, it is fair to say that without significant clinching & steroids it would not even be competitive.

 

The only thing we know for sure is 1 guy cannot absorb the other guy's punches. He was the one that got stopped. So the resiliency of that guy is the big issue, not the whiskers of the other guy.

And Tyson should never have pulled out of their originally scheduled bout. He was the challenger going in & had the big legal issues. Don't pull out of a fight of that magnitude for the title shot with bruised ribs. Follow through and fight the guy. But Tyson was long since in the rut of pulling out and delaying fights by then.

Can you imagine how things would be perceived if it had been Evander that pulled out of that fight with bad ribs? And Tyson went to prison w/o that opportunity?

 

Holyfield ALWAYS beats any version of Tyson his fans could invent, which they already do a very good job of.

He simply intimidated Tyson because he had no fear of him, and Tyson knew Holyfield would fight any way Tyson chose, fair means or foul. Holyfield almost had contempt for Tyson, particularly his reputation.

It is as simple as that.

 

No it's not as simple as that. Tyson was off for 4 years. 3 BS fights doesn't bring back a life time of training. Anyone who boxes knows movements have to become second nature especially when you're a short fighter who moves forward. Tyson never regained his timing or defense and really never dedicated himself to his craft in his comeback as his heart was never in it and that's why he was able to be beaten once his will was tested.
Holyfield was no longer as fit as he once was but his ring savvy and timing was still in tact because he was an active fighter.

 

The argument for Holyfield in 96 is that he only fought 3 times since his own "retirement" after the first Moorer fight. But I agree with your whole post - that his savvy and timing were still there since he wasn't rotting away in prison for 4 years without training or even picking up a glove. Big difference between a fight in 1991. Even bigger difference if we're comparing an 88 Tyson against a 93 Holyfield.

Tyson KO 8

 

Not only was he inactive but he came back a technical mess. Jay Bright was not a boxing trainer and really had no business training tyson at all. He needed to get his basics back in shape and it was apparent from his first few fights he wasn't sharp regardless of the wins. If he didnt want to go back to Rooney he should have at least started with Giachetti or a real "boxing guy" who wasn't a yes man.
Holyfield was not the same fighter either but his timing was still in tact for sure and he always had decent boxing guys around him although I was not a big fan of Turners but at least brooks was in there with him

 

Stop it with the excuses yet again, fact is Holyfield kicked Tyson's ass when both past their primes, he was going to show the world that the first fight was no fluke but Tyson decided to turn cannibal.