Holyfield's accomplishments

Doubtful.

Holyfield was something else.

Never backed down from anyone and had a tremendous output as well as heart, grit power and chin.

So entertaining to watch.

 

Don't forget that he was the undisputed master of the headbutt.

 

atsch

 

It would look even more amazing if he had won the 1984 Olympics gold light-heavyweight (he was the best fighter there but got himself DQ'd and took bronze only).

No we probably wont see his likes again.
He fought a 15 round title-winning epic in his 12th professional fight. That's not going to happen again.

He was deservedly named RING magazine's Fighter of the Year in 1987, narrowly edging a prime Tyson in the year Tyson unified the HW titles (though RING still recognized Spinks). The same year Ray Leonard came back to beat Hagler, and Julio Cesar Chavez became lightweight champion.
Holyfield was 17-0 at the time !

Yeah, his early career accomplishments were incredible.

 

Holyfield at one time was a fan's fighter.

I really don't view him as a dominant champion. He's 1-4 vs Lewis and Bowe on fair score cards, lost to Moorer, looked to get a bit of a home town break vs. Cooper when he was hurt, and had too many excuses and some issues with enhancing drugs.

Sure he owned Mike Tyson, but it wasn't the Tyson from the 1980's

Not in the top 10 for me.

 

He was the type you only see once in maybe two or three lifetimes. He had all the right beginnings. A great amateur career, solid management team, devotion to training, incredible heart and work ethic. And Cruiserweight was a good division for him to start off in until he merged his way into the heavyweight scene. Fighting and winning in a 15 round world title fight against a future hall of famer with only 11 fights and becoming lineal champion of two weight classes with 25 bouts is an achievement to be respected.

His win list includes:

Mike Tyson
R. Bowe
James Douglas
George Foreman
Micheal Moorer
Larry Holmes
Micheal Dokes
John Ruiz
Hasim Rahman
Carlos Deleon
Dwight Qawi.

 

But his lost list includes:

Valuev ( likely a robbery ), but hey his draw vs Lewis was a robbery too.
Ibragimov
Donald
Toney
Byrd
Ruiz, and also drew with Ruiz
Lewis
Bowe 2x
Moorer

 

They just don't throw guys to the wolves like that anymore. I think David Reid and Fernando Vargas were the last of that breed.

I mean Davey Moore in his first 14 fights had hooked it on with a couple of hall of famers and a few top 10 guys. Why would you do that?

Or look at Vargas. 20 fights in: a couple of ex-champions as well as Trinidad, Quartey, and Winky Wright. Jesus, that's ridiculous.

The difference between Holyfield is that he won all those fights which is why he is an ATG and those others are just coulda beens. American fighters just don't do that anymore. The only guys that do it know are Asian fighters(think Samart Payakaroon or Inoue) and lunatics like Lomachencko. It's too risky even if your guy is the goods.

 

Every single one of those guys were world class and never mind the fact that for about 7 of those losses Holy was between 34-45 years old and in some cases with health issues.

 

Health issues or substance abuse?

Holy's best wins

Mike Tyson - Not the same guy as he was in the 1980's. Should be viewed as a top level win though

R. Bowe - A razor thin win. The 17 minute stoppage makes me wonder who wins if there was no stoppage.

James Douglas - Showed up fat and opted to take the count

George Foreman - He was old

Micheal Moorer - 1-1 vs Morrer

Larry Holmes - He was old and cut Holyfield

Micheal Dokes - How much did Dokes have left? The match got ugly with low blows.

John Ruiz -Ewwww

Hasim Rahman - Holy was winning, but the fight was halted due to Rhaman's forehead swelling up. Was it a head butt or punch? I forget

Carlos Deleon - Decent

Dwight Qawi - Decent

 

I give him credit,he stood up to a dangerous 1991 Foreman,beat Bowe once,rematched moorer and embarrassed him,the other wins are questionable to what extent you give him credit for...he was a top 10 for me but he was never the dominant era champion of the 90's.H2H he beats most past era champs.I think Tyson would have derailed his career had he been around,and put him back in the cruiserweight division,i believe Tysons absence was Holyfields gain.

 

Holyfield would always have given Tyson problems and this is not just related to the skills of these 2 guys alone, Holyfield just had that never give up animal spirit in him, a granite chin and will always return the favor with interest. I believe this is why Tyson was always intimidated by him.

However Tyson's abscence was definately Lewis's gain along with the likes of Morrison, Bowe, Foreman and Moorer.

 

He also beat more lineal heavyweight champions than any other fighter.

 

Holyfield wasn't as big then and was more less defensive as well,he was also almost knocked out by Tyson like replacement Bert Cooper.Tyson losing to anyone under 210 is slim and none.Actually it was Holyfield who was intimidated by Tysons work ethic when they were younger,and admits he had to step his game up because eventually they would fight at HW.