96 Holyfield tougher for Tyson

I still envisage Holyfield winning in 1991. Only in the hypothetical prime for prime scenario can I see Tyson beating Evander. The Tyson of 1987/88.

 

younger Holyfield was faster, took a better shot, and had way better stamina.

 

Holyfield only beats a post prison Tyson.

 

Holyfield was bigger/stronger by the time they met. He was even pushing Tyson back.

But overall, Holyfield was better back then, just like Tyson was.

I re-watched their two fights with each other a couple of weeks back after viewing both their earlier fights....depressing.

I will say, despite the Wars and decline, Holyfield had more to give. He was at least active, and mentally and physically prepared to go to war.



It would have been interesting had it originally taken place when Cayton wanted it which was after (I think) a World Tour with it ending with a Holyfield fight. This was going to happen after Spinks.


Quickly, here are Tyson's views about his career after the Ruddock Fights...Time...0:50

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpYCHzs6BLM[/ame]

 

They were both better in 1991, but I can see the argument.

Holyfield wasn't as physically big or strong in 1991, and more prone to brawling. He said that after his fights with Bowe, particularly the third fight, that he became less brawl-crazy and more deliberate. As you saw in the Tyson fight, he was controlled in his aggression. He fought a very smart and controlled fight.

 

Ive been saying this for a while

1991 would have been a totally different fight.

96 Holyfield was bigger than Tyson (allegdly due to peds), pushing him around, in 1991 he woulkdnt have had the physical advantage over Tyson

in 96 He was old and he knew he couldnt just stand there and trade with him, so he boxed a smart fight.

Some factors which people tend to ignore
In 1996, Tyson had fought a load of nobodies, his last decent opponent was Razor Ruddock and that was 5 years prior

Holyfield in the meantime had fought, Bowe, Mercer, Holmes, Moorer, Foreman....thats top notch opposition.

Also i feel Tysons punch resistance suffered in prison, probablty due to inactivity and not enough sparring, you can tell in the fight everytime Holyfield lands a jab Tysons facial reactions show likes hes never been punched before, thats a sign of not enough sparring.

In 91, Holyfield didnt seem as strong as he was in 96, i see Tyson walking through him in 91 2bh,

 

I think discipline was the main factor. Holyfield was a much more disciplined fighter who fought a great fight to defeat Tyson. I think Holyfield wouldnt have been as much in 91, he was far more reckless and took more chances. Tyson was better overall in 91 and regardless of what he says now, it was pretty evident in the fact he could fight a longer more grueling fight than he could in 96.
I think the 91 fight would have been very exciting with Tyson stopping Holyfield late.

 

Well put.

Jim Lampley once stated "You can't spend 5 years in Class C Ball and then go pitch in the World Series."
I'll let you guess which fight he said that in.

Holyfield was in against the best the division had to offer while Tyson was rotting away in jail. They weren't as far gone as some claim they were. Tyson still had the goods and so did Holyfield. They weren't in their primes but they were still very effective fighters.

In retrospect, Tyson was rushed back into the spotlight. He wasn't ready for a Holyfield at that point. He needed a warm up fight against a lesser opponent who would provide more rounds to help shake off the rust.

In 1991 Holyfield had his youth, but he lacked the experience and the ring smarts. Incidentally, I don't think he was ready for Tyson at that point.

Evander Holyfield had said that his advantage going into the Tyson fight in 1996 was that Mike "hadn't been hit" since he came out of prison.

Tommy Morrison during his comeback fight back in 2007 claimed one of the most important things that a fighter on a comeback needs to experience is they need to get hit so that they could condition their bodies into fighting mode. Tyson walked over McNeeley, Mathis, Bruno and Seldon. In retrospect, he needed rounds or perhaps a mini-war against a lesser fighter to prepare him for the kind of a fight that Holyfield would put up.

I believe that fight in 1991 would have been a different affair. Holyfield would have fought gallantly but would have fallen short.

 

:deal Tyson looked like a novice post prison.

 

I've reasoned this viewpoint quite often. That's not to say the 91 Holyfield couldn't win.

 

Very well thought out posts. Couldn't have said anything more. 91 Holyfield had a chance but I wouldn't have him as the favorite over the Tyson of the Ruddock wars. Didn't utilize fighting at a slower pace and Tyson would've been a much harder fight than an older Foreman and even then he got hit with big shots. Credit to Holy for beating Tyson though as I even stated earlier in these forum, he couldn't use the same bully tactics as in 96.

 

Freddie Percheo did state during the fight in 96 that their was a role reversal, Tyson had looked against bad opposition and Holyfield had looked bad against good opposition and now it was beginning to show in the fight.

Team Tyson underestimated Holyfield, they basically believed Bowe Kod Holy so Tyson could do it too. However Bowe fought at a pace which the older Holyfield couldnt compete with anymore, Bowe was a big guy thrown lots of punches...Tyson on the other hand, was a smaller guy throwing 1-2 predictable punches. Tyson fought at a pace which Holyfield was more comfortable with.

People talk about Holy being shot etc etc, that is probably true. The only guy Holy looked great against during that period was Tyson, Bowe, Moorer, Cyz etc hadnt spent 5 years in prison.

Holy would go on to have a 2 decent showings against LL and avenge his loss to Moorer, Tyson would go on on to get schooled by Botha in his very next fight, if Botha had a better chin, history may have turned out different.

At the end of the day though, Holy did what he had to do and he beat Tyson

 

Holyfield also had that 'I love Jesus' face on him during 96. Big grizzled dome head believed he was unbeatable and attained extra mental strength from that. In 91 he was just a fighter.

 

Heavily steroid-injuiced in '96. Not so much in '91.