1996 Evander Holyfield vs. 1975 Muhammad Ali

This fight would be a split decision, i don't know who for though.

I will just say Muhammad Ali for the sake of it.

Could so easily be Evander Holyfield taking it..!!!

 

Oh ****! this is a very good matchup, KOTF.
evander would look to push Ali an go to the body, and wear him down. Muhammad would probably stand toe to tow with evander which makes this a verrry good fight.
I honesly don't know. I'm going with Ali, split decision. I feel his reach and size might make the difference... but it would depend how holy would fight Tyson too. this would be a helluva fight.

 

How do they match up, weight wise, height and reach..? at these present times..!!!

And yes the fight is defo, going to a split decision.......in a total WAR..! TOTAL WAR..!

 

well, let's see.

Holyfield- 6'2?
Ali-6'3
Holyfield-78 inch reach
Ali- 80 inch reach
Holyfield-222 LB
Ali-224


I agree. I don't think they can stop eachother. Holyfield might slightly be the harder puncher, but I doubt it's even a difference.

yeah, these guys have huge hearts too. you can bet neither of them would quit... but what about holyfield's heart problems? would they come into play?
I think Ali just based on being slightly bigger and taller... but Holyfield would certainly be able to push Ali into the ropes, he is the stronger of the two... very very close.

 

If Holyfied viewed this "as a chance of a lifetime".....then I go with Holyfield.....because Holyfied had more left than Frazier did.....and Frazier took Ali to the brink.

I assume we are talking 15 rounds here.

 

I would pick Holyfield here. I think that the 1996 version of Holyfield may be one the best in the case of H2H matchups. This Holyfield was stronger, conserved his energy better and was to smart to be drawn into a toe to toe affair if not needed. I see Ali starting as the counter puncher and landing his fair share of punches but Holyfield gets there often as well. After around 8 rounds everyone has it a close fight some like Ali some Holy. This fight would begin to go into the trenches over the next 7 rounds both men giving and receiving. I think Holyfield lands the heavier punches but Ali lands more, a give and take slug fest in the last 3 rounds with Holyfield putting Ali to the ropes and pounding away at him. Holyfield seals the deal in the 14th and 15th rounds as he is giving more then he is taking and I see him earning a razor thin split Decision..

 

I'd take Ali. Holy didn't have the fire and stamina to take it to opponents the way he used to (as his losses to Bowe and Lewis around that same time showed), and Ali was able to withstand a ton of pressure from a still-formidable Frazier in unbearable conditions and come back to win.

 

Ali I don't see how people think Holyfield would win.

 

In 1996 Holyfield was 211 vs. Czyz and 215 vs. Tyson. 218 for Tyson II in '97. 6'2 1/2" with a 77 1/2" reach.

In 1975 Ali was 223 1/2 vs. Wepner and 224 1/2 vs. Lyle, Bugner, and Frazier. 6'3" with an 82" reach.

 

Close fight... Ali gets the nod. In '96 Holyfield was only fighting in spurts, it worked against Tyson because Holyfield was able to tie Tyson up and rest when he needed to.

 

Why..?

 

because ali was a very different fighter stylistically than tyson. he was a far better fighter too. tyson played right into holy's hands. ali would not. ali would have used his long reach + excellent timing (unlike tyson of '96) to win.

 

10 Rounds: Holyfield close UD.
12 Rounds: Ali close UD.
15 Rounds: Ali late TKO in rounds 13-15.

I think this would be a tough, brutal war with no knockdowns.
Holy would be best advised to used his incredible strength to push Ali to the ropes and punish his body like Frazier did. The thing is, just as the easy-to-hit "one big punch" headhunter Tyson was at a stylistic disadvantage vs '96 Holyfield, Evander would find himself stylistically disadvantaged against Ali. I think over 10 rounds Holy takes a close decision becuase I see him as less badly faded overall and his superior power, strength, durability & health recovery compared to his younger self would serve him greatly. However this Holy starts to seriously get fatigued from round 9 onwards, hence Ali takes the decision over 12 and stops a completely gassed Warrior on his feet over 15.

 

Ali UD