Had Holyfield vs Tyson Happened in 1991?

It would have been a great night for boxing. Back then, we knew Holyfield had heart, but we were not sure about his ability to take a punch. That question was answered later on and the films show Holyfield had a heck of a chin!

If you ask me who I would have picked in 1991, I would have said Tyson.

If you ask me in 2009 who would have won in 1991, I will say Holyfield.

 

Holyfield. Better fighter, and had the style to beat Tyson.

 

could not agree more:good

 

If Buster Douglas took this version of Tyson apart, then so could Holyfield.

 

And there's the rationale.

(i'm quite into that saying now, i think i'll make it my own, but i won't use it out of place)

 

I watched the second Razor Ruddock fight for the first time in my life yesterday and Tyson actually somewhat stopped fighting during the middle rounds, he was tired as hell, didn't look too good so I don't really know. Holyfield wasn't as big as he was back then though, so would that make somewhat a difference, as in the fights they had he was able to smother Tyson and overpower him.

 

I would agree with this too. The only thing that doesn't make it convincing is what Bert Cooper did to Holyfield.

 

I'd bought & paid 4 my ticket & trip a couple ov day's before the fight was called off due 2 Tyson's injury:verysad

Back then i was absolutly 100%+ convinced that Holyfield was the man 2 dethrone Tyson by boxing his head off, remember back then Tyson was still viewed as someone that was'nt human & not ov this world, Ambrose Mendy (Nigel Benn's manager) & i nearly came 2 blows over it, everyone though i was nuts & the popular concensus was that Holyfield was just a blown up cruiserweight & would be dispatched in double quick time 3/4max.

Obviously with the benifit ov hindsight i'am now ov the opinion that Tyson would have KO'd Evander, we all now know that if Tyson was the baddest man on the planet then Evander was the hardest/toughest & iron hearted, but it's the Bert Cooper fight that has now convinced me that Evander would have got himself hammered, he's 2 brave 4 his own good, he'll never ever turn down a challenge.

He never had the physical structure or power back in 91 that he had in 96 & i just don't see him resisting the challange 2 engage in a tear up with a 91 Tyson, as we now know all about Holyfield's stubbiness & his desire 2 shut up his critics & leave know doubt about his legitimacy as Undisputed Heavyweight Champ.

I was also at the Douglas/Holyfield fight at the Mirage & thats the Evander (The Boxer) i expected 2 see against Tyson in 91, but after the Bert Cooper fight it's more than obvious IMO Evander would have been flattended if he'd stood toe 2 toe, my optimum reason being that the Evander ov 96 was a transformed physical monster & not the slim scultured athelete ov the Douglas fight, there is know comparison between the 2 Holyfields ov 91/96.

There has allways been the strong rumours that Holyfield was on the "Gear" even as far back as the Cooper fight & when i also went 2 both the 96/97 Tyson fights i was absolutly stunned when i saw Holyfield physique, absolute monster, he could have been in the WWE, & it was evident with his power in Nov96 the 97 rematch when he just pushed Tyson around with ease, for **** sake:scaredas: have you seen the ****in "TRAP'S" on the ****:scaredas:

Just compare the 2 Holyfields over 5 years, absolute transformation, look, here was a 28/1 dog for the 96 Tyson fight, he was doomed, i'll never forget being there, **** me it's still gets me hairs on me neck up.

But thats my seeing it folks, Evander gets done in 91 due 2 his bravery & lack ov physical power, when he tries 2 impose his will he gets KO'd :smoke & i would have lost a ****in pile ov $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ big time:verysad

 

Tyson would have beaten him.

There are so many variables that go into match making that the 1996 fight is seemingly irrelevant.

Tyson always respected Holyfield as a fighter and IMO knew that Evander would have presented a challenge to him and therefore would not have underestimated him in 1991.

Evander was still by and large a greenhorn at HW. He didnt have the growing experience of the Bowe fights that transformed him into a the great HW that he eventually became. In addition, Tyson didnt have the career changing hiatus at that time period and would therefore be a sharper fighter, slightly quicker, better stamina and more fluid than he was in 1996.

Evander's heart and courage was always there and even as Champion he was never given his due until he lost to Bowe in 1992. Up until Tyson went to prison, Tyson was still considered the best HW on the planet despite the Douglas loss and despite the fact that Evander won the undisputed HW title. Evander would have fought like he had something to prove and it would have resulted in gallant effort, but a Tyson win nonetheless.

I was young when this fight was being brought up but I couldnt help but think then that Evander was just holding the titles until Tyson got his chance to take them right back. So in 1991 Unequivocally Tyson.

In 2009, despite the benefit of hindsight I still pick Mike. Tyson wasn't ready for the taking, Evander would have played into his hands and IMHO Tyson would have stopped him via TKO.

 

Holyfield.

 

Evander wasn't as big then.....he was also liable to trade more.

Tyson by stoppage IMO.

 

It would end up falling into the same lines as Holy - Qawi I. Tyson has his moments, when Holy gets a little flat or doesn't feel like throwing; but mostly the fight would be Holy circling the ring, getting in and out and holding when he has to. Tyson didn't have the workrate to keep up with Holy and loses a bunch of rounds simply by less activity than Holy.

 

That's not accurate.

For instance, in the Dec. 1991 edition of World Boxing, there is an article entitled "Can Evander Holyfield overwhelm Mike Tyson?"

Kevin Rooney is quoted as saying "Mike is no ball of fire anymore..."

The article continues...

"The old style - which started to disappear during a 5 round kayo over Frank Bruno in 1989...has given way to a more simplistic stand-up stance."
"The post-Rooney Tyson has discarded his powerful jab...no longer does he bob and weave inside an opponent's guard..."

Boxing '92 (Jan. 1992) article - 'The Holyfield - Tyson showdown'

"When was the last time Tyson was actually Tyson?...but to find the real Tyson, one has to go all the way back to his 1988 blowout of Michael Spinks."
"It would be safe to assume that Tyson hit his peak between October 1987 and June 1988..."

"Michael, as strong as he is, he's short. The wiggle-waggle just isn't there anymore. The jab isn't there anymore. Maybe the will, the desire isn't there." - Angelo Dundee, speaking in the article entitled "Will the real Mike Tyson please stand up?" (October 1991 edition of Boxing Illustrated. )

..."But even in beating Ruddock, Tyson demonstrated that he is not the same fighter who waded through the heavyweight division on his way to the title. Tyson now moves his head about as much as someone claiming whiplash in front of a jury and throws jabs with about the same frequency." (Same article)

"Following Tyson's victory by unanimous decision after 12 rounds, many of boxing's sages said they were convinced that Tyson was on the other side of his career." (Same article)

I could pull out a dozen more examples, but I think the point's been made. Tyson was NOT seen as "someone that wasn't human and not ov this world."

People thinking that weren't paying attention.