Holyfield best Fight

I'd say Holyfield was right at his absolute peak about the time he Ko'd Douglas. No, I don't consider this to be his best fight, as he was facing a clearly out of shape and unmotivated opponent, but the time frame fits for his prime. He had already dominated the cruiserweight division and was fighting regularly against respectable heavyweight opponents. He was 28 years old and had not yet undergone any majoy health problem, nor been through too many crippling wars.

As for his best fight, I'd say that I enjoyed the Michael Dokes fight above all others. Both men were in peak condition and there was absolutely no quit in either of them. It was a great win for Holyfield working his way up the heavyweight latter, as well as a nice effort on Doke's part too.

 

I'd have to say the 2nd Bowe fight. Before the first Riddick Bowe fight, Holyfield had been able to throw his fight plans outh window and outwill his opponents with success. It was against Riddick Bowe that his will was not enough to win. Holyfield sought out a new trainer, changed some flaws in his style(too much weight on the front foot in particular), and showed that he had the mental aptitude to fight an entire fight without losing his cool.

 

Holyfied fought at his best against Bowe (fight one) IMO. His finest winning performance was probably Dokes IMO. Dynamite was not far off his best that night, but Holyfield showed his class, in an epic battle, that was IMO the best Heavyweight fight of the decade.

 

I think his best BOXING exhibition was his first match with Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

Young, fresh from Olympic triumph, Holyfield handled early adversity very well, boxed and punched very well, and won a clear cut decision over one of the better Cruiserweights of that era.

But at Heavyweight, I think you'd have to say his best fight was his original classic with Riddick Bowe. Must former cruiserweights (!) would have been knocked out by that Bowe uppercut in the ninth, but Holyfield takes it, and actually comes back with a flurry later in the round. Although he lost the decision, most critics claiming he wasn't a "real" Heavyweight were silenced.

 

True, I can remember Larry Merchant saying as a beaten Holyfield existed the ring " Evander probably looked more like a champion tonight in defeat, than he ever did before even in victory. "

 

Yes, that would be my pick.

Physically he may have been a bit past it, but his reflexes clearly were still great, his stamina was fabulous (hence the late stoppage) and most important: he fought very smart. The old Holyfield would slug it out when he got tagged like he did against Bowe.

The Bowe rematch was a fine display too, though.


In a pound for pound sense, i'd go with the Thomas or Douglas fight. He had brilliant combinations, handspeed; the whole package as a boxer. However, as a heavyweight i think he needed those 10 extra pounds hard. He got winded and lost the first fight against Bowe despite outlanding him almost 2:1, including during exchanges.

 

Honestly my favorite Holyfield fight was against Alex Stewart their first fight.
his best display of boxing skills was the douglas fight, that man was a monster that night.

 

Dokes

 

That would also be my pick. Nice avatar man. One of the best movies ever!

 

I'd take his win over Bowe. Bowe was Holyfield's 'kryptonite', he was bigger, stronger and more powerful then Holyfield. At their best (1st matchup) Bowe would probably win everytime. But Holyfield with an excellent strategy came back to beat his nemesis. Similar in a way to Pep's win over Saddler. It shouldn't have happened but it did.

 

1-Tyson 1
2-Bowe
3-Douglas
4-Parkey
5-qawi 2

 

The Foreman fight was a very good performance. He was criticised heavily at the time for not standing still and outmuscling the ponderously slow foreman, but Foremans fight with Moorer showed just what a mistake that could have been. And foreman proved he was a lot better than virtually everybody gave him credit for.

 

Tyson I and Dokes at Heavyweight. Otherwise Qawi I.

Best losing effort? The first fight against Bowe, teriffic effort but in the end beaten by the stronger, better fighter on the occasion. Adapted well after that fight strategically and learnt that he couldn't stand and trade against the bigger man.