If Holyfield Was A Rising Contender Now ?

Spinks would have no problems going the distance with him at cruiser not to mention guys like Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles among others. Charles would be favorite to beat him at 190.

Tho fast tracked Holyfield had less than 20 fights on board when he left Cruiserweight. ATG's like Charles and Moore had no problem competing with guys around 190.

I don't doubt one bit Holyfield would go well among the current heavyweights tho.

 

Yes, Charles and Holy would of been a classic at cruiser, I forgot about Ezzard I don`t feel Moore or Spinks would of been as good as him around the cruiser limit though.

 

Don't get me wrong, Holyfield would be hell to beat there.

 

All of this may be true but the idea that guys like Joshua and Wilder would be afraid to fight him still seems pretty implausible imo. They'd be lining up.

 

Holyfield still becomes undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. AJ could be a tough opponent but I think Holyfield stops him late or wins a UD. Wilder hits hard but against an aggressive counter puncher like Holyfield and with Holyfield's cast iron jaw....no dice for Wilder. Holyfield beats up Ortiz and Parker almost like a playground bully picking on the special kids.

 

PED's just gave him the needed physicality. The skill was there all along

 

let me play the devils advocate here,

Holyfield was never consistant

Holyfield is a Hall of Fame PED abuser

He looked sub par and then he looked good but he struggled vs cannon fodder

Stewart, Cooper, Bean, Cycz, please .....he looked less than impressive

Is 1-4 against skilled big man and IMO without the fan man he is 0-5, Douglas dont count , he never came to fight.

He made the Holmes /Foreman affairs competitive while in reality he should have completely out classed those two fossils.

His claim to fame are his two post prison Bodybuilder Tyson wins, who barely boxed a handful of rounds before the bout and was a shell of what he was in the 80's, the funny thing is, Tyson according to all the "experts" was never any good but he conveniently serves a a prime legacy fight for Holy or Lewis.

I dont care he was dirty as hell with his head, its part of the fighting game.

So today , he would loose some and win some and probably provide some excitement, I would make him a favorite over AJ because he is stiff as a board with zero head movement and a limited gas tank, Holyfield most likely turns it into a brawl where I see AJ getting stopped.

Wilder? Has some really under rated ring smarts /IQ, is fast of hand/foot and awkward as hell plus has genuine one shot KO power in his right, I would envision a Wilder points win at long range with a frustrated Holyfield unable to start a brawl.

 

Holyfield is one of my all-time favorite heavyweights but you make some good points.

 

Make no mistake, I like Holyfield and have mad respect for his career but he just was not the legendary killer he is made out to be.

 

I think it would depend on the era, if you somehow transported Holyfield as he was back the Johnson-Jeffries era I bet he would dominate like Joe Louis.

 

Big heart, amateur pedigree and a current HW division with only 3 real threats - I think Holyfield would do pretty well.

 

Only 3 real threats in the current hwt division?

Joshua and Wilder are 2 but who's the 3rd one?