If Holyfield was to be the challenger to the mighty George Foreman in Zaire, what is the result? This is Holyfield of Tyson 1, Can he pull off an upset here?
I’m leaning towards Foreman. If Holyfield took a more measured approach and attempted to box Foreman like he did in the second Bowe fight, he has a chance of stopping Foreman when he runs out of steam. However, throughout most of Holyfield’s prime the warrior inside of him took over and was often happy to trade with bigger men and against a prime George Foreman, even with punch resistance as good as Holyfield’s, that is simply kryptonite.
No Even if Holyfield chooses not to brawl, i do not see him winning. Foreman cuts the ring better than most. It would take the footspeed of a 1967 Ali to successfully dance away from Foreman. Holyfield wasn't as quick as prime Ali. Foreman would trap Holyfield on the ropes. Once he is there, Foreman will work the body. Holyfield was durable with a great chin. But Holy cannot absorb the body beating Ali did. Holyfield does not have Ali's lead right hand, blinding handspeed, and anticipation to win here. Ali's ability to predict each of Foreman's punches, protect his chin while landing his own rapid fire combinations and lightning lead right hands. Foreman tko 5
This. Holyfield had the skills to hang with almost anybody. Unfortunately he liked to brawl and a prime Foreman is not the guy to brawl with.
I see the logic in picking the Holyfield of the Tyson fight. That version paced himself well, kept his guard up, clinched to neutralize his opponent's offense, and only threw combinations when it was safe. This Holyfield was more mature than the younger more reckless version of the early 90's who was willing to brawl with heavy hitters at the drop of a hat. He definitely has a chance due to his ring IQ, chin, and spoiling tactics. The problem is this version of Foreman was incredibky aggressive. He didn't care WHAT his opponent was doing and wouldn't comply with all the clinching the way Tyson did and he was taller. That takes away 40% of Holy's game plan and it would spell doom.
Holyfield of Tyson 1 gets stopped mid-late rounds, by 1995-6 Holy could only fight in spurts and had slowed down. Prime Holyfield 88-93 gets a late stoppage or decision provided of course he can stay disciplined and box which I believe he would.
Think he gets stopped by round three. Old slow George almost knocked him out in four and would have imo had he gone all out in that round.
We got there with this question, at last, and this is why Ali is and will remain my No 1, NO ONE beats the Foreman of Zaire, not Marciano Dempsey, Johnson, and imo not even the great Joe Louis, he would have destroyed em one and all, mowed them down like skittles, and prob could have done the deed all on 1 night !! But not Ali, he couldn't/didn't why ? because Ali was a great ( banded about too much these days ) fighter, he was a superman that never to be forgotten night, stepped in to the ring with a modern day monster, a slayer of HW , shouldn't be allowed, Ali will be badly hurt possible for life, bah humbug , the bully, the big strong ferocious bully was exposed, he was human after all, BUT it was Ali that made him human, no other HW could have, kneel before the King. Oh and lest we forget 10 years earlier he did exactly the same to another monster Liston, 2 monsters slain in one career, no one can do that can they........
Top post. There's very, very, very few people i would give a chance of beating George that night. Perhaps no-one except Ali as you say.
I like this. We know what a fighter Holyfield is. As soon as Foreman connects he's gonna want to give it right back. We also know that Foreman had that scary power,can any one going punch for punch actually come out of the ring with his senses intact? I'm leaning towards Foreman stopping him in 5.