Is Holyfield THE G.O.A.T?

Bowe has a paper-thin resume which makes that statement a bit problematic.

As much as I enjoyed their trilogy, I think people overrate the skills that were on display. You essentially had a nice match-up of strengths against weakenesses in both fighters. They were very complimentary and provided for good momentum shifts. Still, both fighters had giant holes in their games, if not their hearts... well, unless you are Holyfield against Moorer.

 

I disagree about the Tyson comment. I believe that when Tyson was at his best, he believe that he was the baddest man on the planet to the point of hubris. This is why he fought frequently and against anyone. His post prison career was a facade in retrospect. At that point your assessment of him may have more merit because frankly, post Holyfield, Tyson didn't fight often nor did he take on the perceived threats of the division. He seemed to just take the role of the tough guy without actually believing that he was still a tough guy.

The Evan Fields situation was pretty crazy. I'm not sure what to believe; but I would like to believe that that the majority of his career he was clean.

Holyfield did have a way of making a fight interesting. And the excitement that he produced is certainly missed in the Heavyweight division.

 

Most guys don't regress like that. They start off immature and then get stronger inside. Tyson was propped up early so to speak. As much as he was a machine early on, he was always insecure. Sometime that mentality, that primal fear, translates well in the ring, but all else being equal, guys with ice water in their veins who thoroughly believe in themselves eventually get to them.

Tyson had the advantage of a strong support/family unit that he relied on for not only training, but to make him feel like he was okay. When they were scattered to the winds, he really fought inside out -without the controls he had before- and his deterioration as a fighter is plain to see.

 

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:bowdown

 

To borrow from Larry Holmes, Holy couldn't carry Joe's jockstrap.

 

:thumbsup

 

CW Champ-
1986-1988

Was the Undisputed CW Champ, held the IBF, WBA, and WBC belts

HW Champ-
1990-1992 (IBF, WBA, WBC, Lineal title)
1993-1994 (IBF, WBA, Lineal title)
1996-1999 (IBF, WBA title)
2000-2001 (WBA title)

Should have regained the WBA title in 2008

 

It could be made. The guy has a pretty solid resume. Certainly better than Lewis's or Tyson's.

 

Holyfield is one of the greatest fighters of all-time, heavyweight or pound-for-pound.

If people actually looked at his achievements objectively, and with an honest appraisal of the quality of his opposition, it's obvious that he can clearly be argued to be among the top 3 or 4 heavyweights of all-time.

The only real blemish on his "prime" record is going 1-2 with Riddick Bowe. But on the other hand, it has to be noted that he didn't shy away from fighting the man 3 times in as many years. Compare that to a champ like Larry Holmes, who openly ducked the tough seasoned challengers in the last few years of his reign. Maybe Holmes would have gone 1-2 against Greg Page or Tim Witherspoon, we'll never know.

 

I think Holmes can arguably be ranked among the top 3 or 4 heavyweights of all-time.

 

he can't be argued among the Top 3 or 4, Very, Very FEW fighters can!

when are people going to stop such hypothetical nonsense...

He IS One of the Greatest forsure, but there are at least a couple of dozen and more throughout history that could beat him.

you'd think boxer's were only born a couple of decades ago... there have been literally hundreds of greats, hundreds! And at the Top there is little between True Top men Champions & Contenders alike!!!