Evander Holyfield vs Jimmy Young primes

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Devon, Aug 6, 2026 at 5:04 PM.

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Who wins?

  1. Holyfield KO/TKO

    42.9%
  2. Holyfield PTS

    42.9%
  3. Young KO/TKO

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. Young PTS

    14.3%
  1. Devon

    Devon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Who wins this matchup?
     
  2. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Prime Holyfield survived 41 year old George Foreman. Prime Jimmy Young survived the real George Foreman.

    Young during the 4 years he was ranked by Ring was 13-2-1 with the Ali and Norton losses and the Shavers draw.

    Holyfield the night of the Moorer fight had instant power and everything was clicking. Holyfield would beat a lot of HW's that night he otherwise wouldn't. But if Young could survive 36 rounds with Foreman and Lyle I don't see Holyfield changing that.
     
  3. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Out on the street we used to know a guy named Young Jimmy. He was out cappin' fools, str8 up smokin' 'em like blunts, wanna talk about no never mind. You gotta figure if he switched his names around he take Holyfield too, like lay 'em down, smack 'em yack 'em, know what I'm saying?
     
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  4. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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    Here's chatgpt opinion which I agree with

    At heavyweight, Evander Holyfield beats Jimmy Young, but Young would make him work harder than a lot of more famous heavyweights.
    Young’s whole game was awkward defense, subtle head movement, slipping punches, making aggressive fighters miss, and disrupting rhythm. Against the 1976–77 version of Young—the man who gave Ali fits and beat George Foreman—Holyfield would have periods where he looks frustrated and wastes combinations.
    But Holyfield has several advantages Young would struggle with: much higher work rate, better combination punching, faster sustained offense, excellent conditioning, and enough adaptability to stop simply chasing Young around. Unlike Foreman, Holyfield could reset, jab his way in, attack the body, and keep throwing in exchanges.
    I’d see something like:
    Prime heavyweight Holyfield (1990–93) vs prime Young (1976–77): Holyfield by unanimous decision, roughly 8–4 or 9–3 over 12 rounds.
    Young probably makes several rounds extremely close and may even make Holyfield look bad at times. I don't think Holyfield stops him—Young was extremely difficult to hit cleanly and was never conventionally stopped during his prime.
    Interestingly, Young would probably give Holyfield a more annoying tactical fight than someone like Ron Lyle or Earnie Shavers, even though those men were far more dangerous punchers. Young's style was specifically built to make elite aggressive heavyweights look ordinary.
     
  5. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Good Lord, Young was a b-level slapsy lucky to meet a few elites fighters on the decline. I know it's his season to be overrated but prime Holy would eat him from ass up.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2026 at 3:59 PM
  6. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Holyfield by TKO in a rather one-way beating, I know that Young gave great fights, but Holyfield would be too much...
     
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  7. slash

    slash Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No. The Holyfield that fought Douglas? Young could NOT keep that Holyfield off of him. Fast feet, fast hands, fast mind, forget it. Mighty Slow Young. chatwhat?
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2026 at 6:57 AM
  8. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic War for Souls Full Member

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    Holyfield wins hands down.
     
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