96 Holyfield destroys 86-88 tyson

Prime (physically and MENTALLY) tyson still utilizing what Cus taught him blows holyfield out of the water

 

It's crazy how people ignore how far removed Tyson was post-prison. Some people just look at when they fought and completely forget that there would be more things to factor in for Tyson had 96 Holy & 86-88 Tyson fought. He was a different fighter in the 80's. Better balance, focused, much more bodypunching, much sharper, head movement, combinations,etc. I understand Holy of 96 could win and had the weight to outmuscle Tyson but to say he runs him over just like he did when they fought in 96 befuddles me. Tyson of post 88 to pre prison has a chance but I'd favor 96 Holy heavily. Really any Holy strong enough to hang with him that's still sharp. Anything before that goes to Tyson for me.

 

Tyson with rooney wins any version of holy!IMO

Rooney was the man who would push mike to the limit other trainers was just afraid to say something to mike!

Mike would win hard fought UD against 1989-1999 holy!

 

Holyfield is an ackward syle match for Tyson, but the one in 96 is no comparison to the guy that peaked in 88.

 

Post prison Tyson wasn't even half the fighter he was & it still took Holyfield 11 rounds to beat him!!

No way in hell Holy beats a prime Tyson.

 

i disagree/ 4 yrs away from the game ???? Its gotto hurt/ tysons refexes werent the same at all..... In fact the tyson of the first ruddock fight would beat evander holyfield.... But thats just me...tyson was an 8 to 5 favorite in nov of 91(afetr the 2 ruddock fights)

 

Yes indeed.

Good to see others with sound reasoning on this matchup.


Holy beats any version Tyson..... Although I happen to think Tyson that fought Holy was the Tyson that used to steemroll everyone else..........its just that he was finally in with someone on another level that had skills and a jab to PREVENT him from looking as good as he used to............try as he did, Holyfield was the difference, not Tyson's time out fo the ring or being a few years older.

 

:roflatsch

 

The one that peaked in 88 was not fighting better fighters in 88.

Put Holy and Lewis back in with Tyson in 88 and you'd then be saying Tyson had peaked in 86.

 

Absolutely. People forget Tyson was a 15-1 favorite.

Holyfield was four years older, considered far more past it and had been in several wars already.

This is a win that you just cant take from Holyfield.

 

Who was Tyson fighting in 96 that was superior to the guys he faced in the 80's (besides Holyfield of course) ? Lewis would have beaten by a prime Tyson , imo. Holyfield is more a toss up.

 

Holyfield's alias is no joke.

 

Evander has three ATG scalps.

And all three of them (IMO) would have made short work of him in their respective primes.


So, NO.

Don't agree.

 

You're forgetting Qawi (x2). I think Bowe makes a Top 20 rather easily as well, plenty would argue top ten head-to-head. And considering Norton, Braddock, Willard, et al. he'll probably see enshrinement as well.

Who would you say Holmes or Tyson beat that was on the same level as 1993 Riddick Bowe?

 

I got love for the Holy one, but hell no. 80s Tyson wasn't dependent on one punch power like in the 90s and in the 90s he didnt throw half the combinations he did earlier in his career. The biggest difference would be Mikes defense and also his mentality. This is an Iron Mike not prone to mentally breaking down and letting emotions get the better. Mike would be much, much more focused on winning the fight than looking for a way out. It would be dead even with Evander controlling distance and missing more on the inside while Mike being more defensive minded countering with bodyshots and rapid combinations. Would be a modern version of Thrilla in Manila. Those 2 in their primes coulda beaten just about any HW in history.