How good a fight was Holyfield vs Tyson I

Great

 

Amazingly good fight.

 

I thought it was great when I watched it the first time (live on television), but rewatching it I feel there's a lot of clinching, and a pretty low pace compared to great HW fights like for example Ali-Frazier. But it had a great intensity and the ending was dramatic. I still see it as a great fight, even though there are other fights I enjoy rewatching more.

 

I agree with Bokaj. At the time I thought this fight was unreal, I was jumping through hoops with excitement of Evander's wearing down of Tyson. An intriguing contest, with a great strategic performance from Evander I'd say, but not a classic in terms of actual action.


It had some memorable moments nonetheless: The exchange at the end of round 2, Tyson's combinations in the 5th, the following round's knockdown (when the fight was won in my opinion), also it had 'telling' moments like Tyson complaining in the 3rd and Evander's teasing in the 7th, the former you sensed we were in for a long night, the latter giving a virtual confirmation that an upset was imminent. A great night, one of my favourites. :good

 

It was more of an event then a fight. In some ways a precursor to all the clinching we see in the current HW scene.

 

Excellent synopsis of the fight.

 

Not much of a fight after the first round. Holyfield essentially dominated Tyson and systematically broke him down.

 

Compare the precise, clean punching of, say, a Liston fight to the sloppiness of Tyson-Holyfield and you have an excellent illustration of how much the heavyweight division deteriorated after its glory days.

 

I thought it was a one sided beating but not a great fight. Holyfield started controlling Tyson in round 2, and you could see what was happening. The excitement was the event and seeing how Evander was not being overwhelmed by Mike and was actually the stronger man in there. Which surprised me.

 

That's not how I see it. Tyson was very much alive, and actually slightly ahead, until the KD. After that Holyfield took control.

 

Yes, I had Tyson in the lead after his solid 5th round.

 

Then we differ on viewpoint. Tyson was systematically mugged. As for rounds, I saw Holy outbox Tyson in the 2nd-4th, took round 5 off, dominating the 6th-11th.

As for how Tyson could be slightly ahead....you'll have to explain it to me.

 

Well, he only had a one-round swing's difference from you by the sound of it.

 

I disagree. I didn't follow boxing so i only saw it when i already knew the result, but it's still one of my favorite fights. The fact that Tyson staggered him with the first right hand he threw, the drama of the moment when Holyfield spun Tyson around and landed a hard left hook with Tyson on the defence, against the ropes.... then of course Tyson's great 5th round followed by Holyfield's "impossible" knockdown in the 6th.. i've watched that knockdown a million times, because there's so much surprise in there, especially when you consider how highly regarded he was at the time, and still is. Despite about 16 clinches a round, a great fight.