Prime Holyfield (let us say 1996) vs. present-day Joshua ?

Joshua wouldn't be ready for Holyfield at that stage.

 

Holyfield wasn't prime in 96 though, he just had a successful title run after Tyson.

That version still beats Joshua though. That version could take a punch, isn't afraid to go in there and rough you up, and will throw in a butt or two.

Not to mention that he was roided out of his mind. But so is Joshua.

 

Joshua hasn't shown us anywhere near enough to think he could hand with a fighter of Holyfield's caliber.

Evander would be too quick, too agile and most importantly too active. He'd take the young Joshua deep and sink him in the championship rounds.

Joshua has the size advantage of course and Evander did struggle at times with big men. But he did beat Bowe and even in his losses was very competitive with Bowe. Joshua for all his potential hasn't shown us that he's on Bowe's level. Joshua would need to show better movement and a far better jab than I've seen so far for me to think he could make his size count.

 

89-92 was his absolute prime.

 

We'll know more about Femi after Pulev.

 

True but even if he blows Pulev out inside a minute I'd still have to see way more to think Joshua would beat any version of Holyfield near his prime.

 

evander rips the big man up.

 

Holyfield would find it difficult to outbox the longer ranged Joshua. But Joshua lacks the technique and ring IQ Holyfield possessed, I'd say Holyfield wins via majority decision.

 

lol, what are you talking about? He was the undisputed CW and HW champ before Tyson, having won the lineal title a second time before losing it to Moore. He was also in FOTY's with Bowe, which had already been one of the greatest trilogies in Heavyweight history before meeting Tyson. Everyone thought he was over the hill when facing Tyson, the bookies had Tyson as a favorite. The general consensus was that Holyfield was too old and shopworn and that Tyson was gonna steamroll him.

 

Holyfield batters him.

 

Today? Holyfield beats him. In 2-3, if AJ progresses some more, I'd take AJ in a UD win.