Holyfield ist badly underrated at HW

At the nobody was looking at Tyson as a fraud. He looked pretty good out of prison though he wasn't taken rounds by anyone. I fact the only reason that fight happened was because Tyson's team was sure that Holyfield was shot. It was big $ and a big name and easy win they thought. Can't take that one from Holyfield.

Ali was not the same fighter he has been in the 60s but that "rusty" Ali would have kicked the crap out of almost any heavyweight that ever lived. If he wasn't in great condition no way he sees the final bell.

 

Are you sure you are okay in there little buddy?

 

On a head to head rating when we assume each fighter in his prime at his very best, it's hard to back against him against most.
He was one of those fighters who at his best just seemed to get in the zone and be like a man possessed, and seemingly could overcome any hurdle.

 

Food for thought.

 

I’ve said before that if Holyfield had retired after the second Moorer fight he would be a consistent top 3 ATG at heavyweight.

Evander Holyfield was so gifted and tenacious that he was able to fight on for 14-15 yeas PAST his prime yet still remain ultra competitive and dignified at elite level (against opposition like prime Lewis).

He beat 7 lineal heavyweight champions, unified two weight divisions, avenged key defeats, repeatedly regained world heavyweight titles - something Ali is lauded over for doing and was never KTFO like Lewis vs McCall and Rahman.

ATG

 

It’s a good resume, that’s for sure.

But was he PED enhanced?

 

That can be made about every fighter if you try.

For example.

Mike Tyson.

Was knocked out in his prime by Mike White's victim Buster Douglas, was completely and thoroughly dominated (even with that KD in round 8).
Struggled vs fringe contender Tillis whom Spoon, Thomas and Page knocked out previously
Never beat prime or near prime ATG HW
Was beaten by 4 years older washed up Holyfield who was 20:1 underdog
Never got off the floor to win the fight

It's easy

You can go on.

Lennox. Was KO'd by drug addict in 2
Was KO'd cold by Maskaev's former and future victim Hasim Rahman in 5
Struggled badly vs past prime Mercer who was schooled by old Larry Holmes and Jesse Ferguson years before
Met Holy and Tyson many years after their prime

Muhammad Ali

Almost got knocked out by Euro-level Cooper
Shady wins vs Liston
Arguably 1-2 or 0-3 vs Norton
Arguably lost to Young and Shavers
Lost to 6-0-1 novice who got destroyed by Coetzee in 1 less then year after

It's easy about EVERY fighter who entered the ring cause everyone had his ups and downs. And when you dislike fighter, you will easily pick his worst moments and make a post like that.

I'm not thinking that way about these mentioned fighters, I just wrote how it can be made.

 

Underrated? Have you ever heard anyone deny that he is - at the very least -one of the five best heavyweights of the last thirty years and would give a tough fight to literally anyone else in history?

 

I don't think there's any good evidence he was any more PED enhanced than his contemporaries.
"Evan Fields" sounds like a pseudonym you'd choose so you can frame someone else if any suspicion is aroused.

 

Perhaps.

However, is it coincidental that as his physique changed evanders hair fell out and he had heart complaints?

As you say, if he was a cheat, then Evander would not have been the only one.

 

2+2 Making 5 again?

 

Re PEDS I'd say it was a level playing field, everyone was at it back then and testing was non existent. Holyfield lived the fighters life, it was just in his nature to train and fight with everything he had in his locker. PEDS do nothing for your chin or fighters heart

 

Sorry, did you say under?

 

Well, there is, to play devil's advocate, some talk of strengthened neck muscles improving punch resistance..but they jury's out as far as the science on that goes...

 

I've hypothesized before that what we call "chin" must surely be a combination of genetically determined (or at least influenced) neurological resistance to trauma (for lack of a less unwieldy term) and yes, the ability of the trapezius and sternomastoid muscles to (partially) stabilize the head upon impact.
There just aren't many other things it could conceivably be.