89 Holyfield vs 80 Weaver

I actually did this same thread a number of years ago, although I think I did 1990 holy vs 1980 Weaver, but basically the same thing. Yes, I think weaver would have a chance, but evander should be heavily favored.. I would pay huge money to see this fight as we'd get two perfectly sculpted heavys in their primes who had a ton of heart and loved to mix it up... My prediction is holy by late round TKO. But great fight.

 

It would have been a good s**** for the first few rounds....if Weaver makes it out of the first. I love Weaver, but Holyfield has the edge in every dept. except power....and that's pretty close, too. Evander would take him out in 4 or 5.

 

Agree with all this. :thumbsup

 

Good matchup; something a little different. I favour Holy right away because Weaver always had a languid style and a low punch output.
I don't see him outworking or outboxing the busier Holyfield. Still though, Weaver might be able to pull a Bert Cooper and nail Evander with a huge surprise punch. It's his only real shot. But Weaver could really hit, and he could conceivably stop Holyfield if he finds the right opportunity.

 

Total missmatch

 

Weaver could bang, and Holyfield is not that hard to find. He was pretty durable too, when he had to be. So I'd definitely give Weaver a reasonable chance. That said, Holyfield is obviously the favourite.

 

I always give Holyfield his dues, but this is a competitive fight. I think Holyfield would be pushed to the absolute limit, and would want it just that little bit more.

 

Weaver- WBA HW Champ, 23-9 (16) overall, 5 losses by KO, and 2-1 (2) in HW World Title fights. His first fight in 1981 was a win over Tillis W15. He had stopped Mercado, Tate, and Coetzee. He won a decision over LeDoux. He gave Holmes a good fight but was stopped in the 12th round. In 1982 he was stopped by Dokes but in 1983 he drew with Dokes (I thought Weaver won), they should have fought a 3rd time.

Holyfield- WBC Americas HW Champ and Former CW World Champ, 23-0 (19) overall, and 6-0 (5) in CW World Title Fights. He was also 3-0 (2) vs. Hall of Famers Qawi x2 and Deleon. He had also beat Booze, Tillman, Parkey, Ocasio, Tillis KO5, Thomas KO7, Dokes KO10, Rodrigues KO2, Stewart KO9. In 1990 he became the HW Word Champ.

 

I don't see any scenario wherein Weaver wins. Holy either boxes him to a decision, or wars it out and stops him late. Even if Weaver lands some big ones, it just makes it a more entertaining fight, but Holyfield withstands the storm and outpunches him.

 

I think most people ( including myself ) agree that Holyfield takes this one. But I also believe it's a potentially great fight worth talking about.. A 1980 weaver vs a 1989 holy would feature two comparably aged and sized heavyweights who were both in emaculate condition.. Both had heart, toughness, power, willingness to mix it up and had each gone 15 rounds. If an aging dokes gave Holyfield fits in 1989, then I think Hercules could match the feat.. Hell as hard as it is imaging holy vs weaver being a better fight then holy vs dokes it's not out of the question.

 

In fairness, Holyfield also underperformed sometimes, or failed to really establish himself as the better man over an inferior opponent.

 

I think Weaver by decison

At the stages indicated by the OP, he was stronger, hit harder more experienced at the weight.
Holyfield was faster, busier, maybe a little more durable.

At that stage, Holyfield was a small heavyweight who stood in front of his opponents and warred. He had a very tough fight with a past his prime, though still dangerous, Dokes. Other than Dokes, he had beaten a shot Thomas and Tillis, and a never was in Rodriguez. He had another tough fight with Alex Stewart, who wasn't as good as prime Weaver.

Weaver was hitting his absolute prime in 1980. He was battle tested agains Holmes, Tate and Coetzee. Weaver drew with and arguably beat, a close to prime Dokes in Mid 1983.

I think Weaver would come on late to win a a pretty close decision.

 

maybe a total missmatch, but anything but a total mismatch.