Prime Holyfield vs Prime Povetkin

Evander.

 

Never saw the big deal about Povetkin.

When he held the WBA ‘regular’ title, he defended against:

42-year-old Cedric Boswell, who I’m pretty sure nobody considered to be a contender

Marko Huck, a cruiserweight fighting at heavy for the first time (majority decision that was pretty heavily disputed and reffed very heavily in Povetkin’s favor at that)

40-year-old Hasim ‘Past His Sell-By’ Rahman

Andrzej “Dionne” Warwick, a never-was if there ever was

A lot of his opponents were very carefully hand-picked for name value while being past viable. Someone mentioned him beating Duhaupas, who literally flew up on day-of-fight notice and had to borrow shoes. Yeah, fair fight there.

I just don’t see it.

 

Tyson wasn't peak, but was still a formidable heavyweight and certainly was regarded as one of the best heavies of 95-97. Beating a 96 Tyson would be an outstanding win on any resume.

 

I pick Holy too but Pov has an excellent resume

 

Povetkin was fairly solid and one of the better HWs during the Klitschko Doldrum Era but he tended to be quite formularized in his approach, without adaptation, and relied heavily on those firm fundamentals and being the fitter man in there.

It also helped that he was as hard as a coffin nail.


Holyfield had more variety in his arsenal and had the better engine, IMO. He was equally as tough, so this would go the distance in what I reckon would be a good fight - But it's one that Holyfield takes on a comfortable points decision.

 

True. Povetkin was no more of a world champion than Daniel Dubois. He held the WBA 'regular' belt.

 

Holyfield in a tough fight that goes the distance.

 

Lol the things these people say make me think they don't even watch boxing. I seen somebody say Bob Fitizsimmons could beat Lennox Lewis. A 160 pound boxer could beat Lennox Lewis. I seen one person say since the 6'3 230 pound Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson then the 5'10 180 pound Marciano could do it. I see people say the 170 pound Gene Tunney could baet Foreman since the 6'2 215 pound Jimmy Young did.

Evander Holyfield fought and beat better opponents in comparison to Povetkin. Holyfield TKO's a prime Povetkin in the middle rounds.

 

Holyfield roughs him up imo, uses the jab, counters left hook, get inside and get dirty, while Povetkin is a front foot fighter and can fight on the inside, he could only really fight clean and didn’t like it when roughed up, don’t think Holyfield should go punch for punch with him on the inside, but grab him push him off and get punches off instead.

 

The version of Mike Tyson that Holyfield smashed would beat Povetkin

 

Holyfield has more tools in his arsenal, Povetkin is great on the inside, also in the trades and at closing distance quickly, but Holyfield was abke to stay tight and defensively responsible when guys would try to close the distance quickly.
Holyfield can do something that Povetkin can’t and that’s box at range on the backfoot and that’s what he’d do for the base of the fight, only fighting his way out on the inside when he has to, and another thing, Povetkin was great on the inside, but only in a perfectly clean fight punch for punc, but when guys would grapple, use their strength to get punches off etc, Povetkin didn’t like it and I feel Holyfield should use that when he has to fight on the inside rather than going punch for punch, other than that, he should look to use the jab and force counter punching opportunities out of povetkin.
I feel like Povetkin can have some succes with the uppercut as Holyfield often comes in head first, but guys often didn’t look to times the uppercut against Holyfield except Lewis, guys that were shorter than Holyfield like Tyson never really attempted to time the uppercut when he closed the distance, because that’s not something a taller fighter is typically open to, so they subconsciously assumed it wasn’t on, but I can see that it was, when Holyfield would close the distance head first, but maybe Povetkin wouldn’t take advantage.
I still feel Povetkin could have success with the uppercut when they’re up close chest to chest, but I was specifically talking about as Holyfield closes the distance.

 

Povetkin gets a real working over from Evander

 

Super Great matchup.
While Holyfield ranks higher I would favor Povetkin to win a match in a trilogy. Potvetkin is a tough fighter in simulation.

I will run it through my boxing simulation & see the results. I'm not quite sure what will happen. Holyield would be favored obviously.

Fight 1- 15 Draw (426-426 three scorecards combined) (holyfield down in 8th)
Fight 2- 12 W Holyfield (350-325) (Potvetkin down in 8th & 2x in 10th)
Fight 3- 13 WTKO Holyfield (Potvetkin down 2x 10th, 2x in 13th)

He almost had him in 1st fight & got worse with rematches.