I remember when I was 14 years old, watching Evander Holyfield fight live on Showtime championship boxing against Michael Dynamite Dokes.. It was one of the best fights I had ever seen, and I had tremendous respect for the efforts of both men that evening. Dokes was 30 years old, in good shape and seemed to have been revitalized from his previous career. Evander was a sculpted contender in his prime and looked more determined than ever... Evander had already beaten James Tillis and Pinklon Thomas prior to this match as his first two heavyweight outings.. A few months later I cought his match with Addilson Rodriguez and then Alex stewart in November of 1989.. I was following the division very closely in those days and can still recall the excitement that was circulating around the scene.... You had a lot of young talent with Holyfield, Razor ruddock, Tyson, and the upcomming olympians from the 1988 games.. I never recall the division being more interesting in my life time as I was too young to see the 1970's... I have far more respect for how Evander campaigned as a contender after leaving his previous division, then I do someone like David Haye.. He moved up and EARNED his title shot by facing quality men on a regular basis, and winning decisively while keeping in fantastic shape.. You don't see a lot of that anymore, and I wish you did.
And before doing so,he cleared up at the cruiserweight division and left no doubts who was the man at that division.David Haye took the only two credible wins - after years of facing mediocre opposition - and jumped up.He didn't unify and dominate the division like Holyfield did. Truly one of the greatest fighters of the modern era.A skilled,versatile elite fighter,and and one of the most aesthetically pleasing to watch of recent memory.Past or present,Holyfield is the one heavyweight who's fights I could watch over and over without ever getting tired of doing so.The man defined heavyweight boxing in the 1990's.Damn near fought them all and put together one of the greatest resume's in the division's history.
