Prime for Prime-Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson

No I dont ignore that, and I would expect Holyfield to be Tyson's stiffest challenge, but Im specifically referring to the shots that were landed on Holyfield in this clip posted on the thread by Alex Stewart, and that would be comparable to the barrage that was landed on Pinklon Thomas that knocked him out, four or five clean unanswered punches.

 

Holyfield would have been far more respectful of Tyson's power and abilities.
He wasn't even respectful enough of Stewart to bother clinching or any sort of retreating, he barely covered up.

 

I know you think that, but Tyson made guys fight, he forced the fight, took guys out of their game and forced them to fight, in many cases, fights they werent capable of fighting.. Thats why so many technically good boxers with good reach and movement were taken out quickly. Holyfield could fight, but Tyson was better at his best.
There is nothing in Holyfield's early heavyweight run that suggests he would fight differently against Tyson. As I said, he fought foolishly against Foreman who could have been easily outboxed, Cooper, Stewart, Dokes, Bowe etc. It wasnt his lack of respect that had him fighting like that, it was his fighting style. Evander Holyfield was as much of a brawler as he was a technical fighter.
In my opinion there is no comparison to how the fight would have gone down against an 88 Tyson vs a 92 Holy, no matter how it went down in 96.

 

I think Holyfield was a better fighter, without a doubt.
And I thought he did fine against Foreman.

 

tough, holyfield would always trouble tyson due to his abilities and durability. when they fought neither man was prime. holyfield was probably more past it physically but he was still skilled and crafty while tyson was sloppy during his entire comeback trail. this showed during the fight, when holyfield who get tyson out of position and grab to nulligy his offense. a prime tyson was tecnhically much better and would have been harder for holyfield to employ some of those tatics. its close but tyson by late ko or decision, there nor guarantee

 

if they fought in november of 91 .......... tyson was an 8 to 5 betting favorite back then......tyson was way better in 91 then 96........in 91 still very dangerous....TYSON VIA 8 RD TKO

 

Close poll. I got Tyson in his prime.

 

I flip flop on this all the time.

Right now I pick holy. Who knows who I'll pick when asked next year.

 

Holyfield was incredible and is a personal favorite of mine, as is Tyson.
I feel Holyfield is getting stopped on his feet in the midrounds though.
Tyson was too fast, powerful, and relentless. You dont outslug 80s Mike
unless youre Foreman, and Holy wasnt the virtuoso ring scientist to outbox
Prime Mike.

 

In his prime Holyfield might have been too confident, he would have loved to brawl which could have been his doom.

The older Holyfield would have come with the perfect gameplan to handle Tyson.
(Though it was still a big surprise when he proved physically stronger than Tyson in their fight)

In this case, a non prime Holy might do better than a prime.

 

Yes it was surprising that Holy was bigger and stronger. Perhaps the 96
version of Holy would fare better against 80s mike then 91 vander would have.

 

Holy UD or late TKO.

Prime Holy can take what Tyson had to give.