Prime Evander Holyfield vs Prime Mike Tyson

I think it was Tyson who was always intimidated by holyfields warrior spirit

 

Holyfield has been humble enough to admit that he didn't defeat Tyson at his best. He acknowledges that he would have had huge problems dealing with a Tyson under Rooney

 

If anything Holyfield was less prime as believed at the time.


Holyfield was 33 and had only 2 fights in the previous year, and looked washed up in both. His first career knockout loss to Bowe and a competitive slugfest with a 34 year old in his heavyweight debut only stopped by a chemical getting in Czyz's eye.

People were calling for Evander to retire, while the writers were convinced Tyson was back after he demolished belt holder Bruno and the difficult Mathis JR.

Holyfield coming back from retirement and two poor outings to not only out box but batter Tyson suggests he would always rise to the occasion and have this guys number.

 

Tyson would have been better obviously but Evander would have been younger obviously that when they met and quicker. Though he would be lighter and less muscled and maybe less equipped to be able to grapple Tyson and wear him down in the same fashion

I do think Holyfield still comes out on top, i doubt he stops him

 

Holyfield was actually heavier and more muscular for the second Bows fight than he was for that first Tyson fight.

He deliberately packed on 15 pounds of muscle in the rematch so Bowe couldn't wear him down on the inside again.

So even a younger Holyfield at 29, was capable of beefing up for Tyson if required.

 

Is that the fight where you cite his prime

 

Maybe but
The point is he could gain the mass if his strategy called for it almost 4 years prior.

He was 212 in 89 even but cut down again.

 

Yes, Tyson as a smaller stature guy relied upon that edge more. It's not an insult, you just new he was going to have a short shelf life.

 

This is the reality of the time!

 

Tyson looked like he knew he was in for a long night the second time around!


I think the 208 is the better version, but perhaps the larger version was necessary under some circumstances.

 

I think prime Mike would have got him out of there.

Tyson deteriorated a lot from his prime years whereas Holyfield managed to keep a consistent level of performance late into his career. Holyfield is greater imho.

 

yeah i agree with this :good

 

With evander -tyson threads its only a matter of time before some lazy thinking dunce drags out the "evander beats him everytime" argument......you get the prize this time for being that man! Congrats:happy

 

This is the gist of it. I believe 1991 would've been the most competitive bout between the two and I'm on the fence with the outcome.

-Prime for prime I go with Tyson. His fluidity and movement were something special for a heavyweight.

-1991 I lean a bit towards Tyson but he was on the way out and Holyfield was hitting his prime at heavyweight. Depends on who wanted it more.

-1995 and onwards it looks like Holyfield wanted it more and Tyson either didn't want a rugged fight or didn't want to work as hard as he did in his prime years.

 

Holyfield beats tyson everytime period