96 Holyfield destroys 86-88 tyson

What the **** are you talking about? Cus was THERE when they sparred!

Funny because Holyfields ascension into greatness was based on beating Mike Tyson.

 

There is an argument Evander may have always beaten Tyson. Mike had a discernible rhythm that Holyfield picked up on in '96, albeit degraded but more akin to an echo than a different tune. In Mike's prime he would tick-tock, fire the jab and prepare 3-4 punch salvoes. The execution was brilliant but the design was somewhat predictable and Holyfield's style of rough-housing while looking for counters is a good foil. He had the resolve to absorb clean punches and a dirtiness to neutralise attempted elbows. Even for the prime Mike, Evander may prove a chunk of gristle he ultimately chokes on.

Notable punches that hurt Holyfield, that right hand against Cooper and uppercut in Bowe I were somewhat sneaky shots that Tyson did not throw. His machine-gun contributions were clear-cut, either getting through or dissolving into a clinch. Inside fighting was always a sore point for this mid-range slugger. That extra height is helpful as they come to, for Holyfield to push back and fire a hook before the referee separates, to infuriate Mike.

The argument for the Mike of 86-88 is that his shot selection was better, he was fitter (could go a hard 12) and had a trainer he listened to. Evander would have a superior tank to deal with and Rooney just might be able to inject a subtle plan B when the opponent doesn't drop. Tyson's ability to hang tough is wrongfully said to equal nil.

The proposed 1991 bout, when Tyson was more enthusiastic, and before Holyfield hulked out, would have been a cracking fight.

 

Great post.

The Tyson of 86-87 would have beat the living **** out of Tyson of 96-97 and probably stopped him within 6 rounds.

I mean, its a decade apart!

 

Probably, though it would be interesting while it lasted, Tyson 86/88 was a different fighter than the 90's incarnate, his hand and foot speed were superior as was his defence, though it would be difficult to envisage anything other than a Holyfield victory based on what we now know, though i wouldn't rule out Tyson winning as the earlier version was a very good fighter.

 

Holy wouldn`t have caught a prime Mike as much as he caught Bowe, Mike was far better defensively than Bowe.

 

Holy was far easier to hit than Mike before his rematch with Bowe, Foreman would neve4r have cauught a prime Mike as much nor Dokes.

 

Holy is a greater ATG than Mike (greater than even Lewis and Foreman imo, and George is one of my favorites).

But (though he's far from my favorite fighter) prime Mike would have smashed 96 Holy. Holy would have gone down and gotten up again and again, but prime Mike was just too terrifyingly ferocious. Holy would NOT stay down, but the ref has to stop it before round 5.

 

He was juiced to all hell of course

 

Prime Bowe and Mike would have seen Bowe knocked down once and staggered a few times, but his size and jab would have messed Mike up. Mike would have been rendered useless by Bowe's uppercut.

Bowe in 10.

 

I don't know a 96 Holyfield, I do know a 96 Evan Fields.

 

"destroys", I very much doubt it, beat, possibly, i'd very much like to have seen the fight.

 

16 year old Tyson works a natural unroided prime Holyfield -- and is bigger too. Pre-King Tyson was a blazing fast, technically brilliant, volume-punching and defensive machine. The only question is if he KOs roided Holy or not.

 

Literally all of Tyson's positive legendary legacy was formed pre Don King and he was the most famous boxer throughout the world since Ali around that time for a reason -- he was an absolute rabid, mauling, unhittable, blitzkreiging machine. Holyfield was a light heavy that came down with a serious dianabol addiction.

Ya, Tyson's really ****ed.

 

This myth of "prime Tyson" is so laughable. According to all the people who make excuses for him, Tyson's prime lasted under 3 years ffs. From Berbick to Williams. He was a slightly better heavyweight version of Adrien Broner.

What a joke. Holyfield beats him every time. Tyson was WAY overrated as the "Baddest man on the planet"

 

With or without roids?