Let 's say a heavyweight version of Holyfield 89-91 somewhere in that era. I almost think we could even use the jr heavyweight version in the 2nd fight vs Qawi but he was probably was too lite for wlad, I think he was about 187-190. Let's go with either the 208 version or 210 version who fought Douglas and Cooper. I feel Evander would be a technical nightmare for Wlad and Wlad's robotic ways. I rank Evander among one of the greatest easily as far as most technique sound fighters during their primes, his power was a little above average not super great but he was one of the most sound all around boxers that I can name in this weight class.
If Kiltschko doesn't speed up that jab and keep Evander on the outside, this fight won't go the distance. Wlad is not fast enough to keep up with a prime Holyfield. Although I believe Lewis was handed the rematch victory against Holyfield, Lennox took some serious shots in that fight and fired back, whereas Wlad's chin remains a question. Holyfield KO 10
Evander by stoppage. If you look at the second Lewis fight as a blueprint, but imagine a gunshy, inferior Lennox replica rather than one willing to stand and trade
wlad would not understand what was happening to him. evander was too sound of a technician for wlad. evander would throw precise combinations early and often. i dont see this fight going any further than maybe six at the most and that is being nice to wlady.
You keep saying Lewis was handed a victory in the second fight. That's just not true. I spend a week agruing about this on the general forum and when asked those who opposed (it was about 75-80% in favour of Lewis) to provide a round by round breakdown of which rounds Holyfield won they couldn't do it. Those that could, couldn't even agree on which rounds he won. I recall watching this fight and scoring very closely. At the end of the I had it 8-4 for Lewis, (it wasn't a particularly hard fight to score) but if I tried I could have made it 7-5 Lewis and that was giving Holyfield the benefit of the doubt in every close round there was in the fight. So this wasn't a sympathy victory for Lewis, it was a genuine win. As to the qustion at hand, I'd give Holyfield the win, as I'm still not convinced that Wlad can deal with anyone who can get inside and force him to fight. One the outside he's practically unbeatable, but Holyfield would try and fight this along the same lines as he did Bowe and but he would have more success, at least in my view as Wlad wouldn't be in his comfort zone. I like the quesetion, interesting match up.
I'm going with Evander Holyfield, but concur with most that he'd have to be at his optimal best. His persistance, constant pressure, conditioning, chin, and ability to mix it up on the inside would have made for a very hard night for Wlad. Of course, I can see Klitschko playing it safe, and keeping Holyfield on the tip of his jab, perhaps taking a decision, but something tells me that Evander wouldn't let him get away with that all evening. Sooner or later they'd mix it up and Holy wins the war of attrition..
Well Holy was 1-4 ( omit the bogus draw ) vs Bowe and Lewis, who has similar things in common with Wlad. He was 1-1 with Moorer, and Moorer even had a shakier chin. It seems that Holyfield had trouble with bigger fighters, and with fighters who had a good jab. Lewis and Morrer had chins that were suspect to Ko's, and Bowe's chin was suspect to being floored by punchers on Golota's level. Yet Holy power's did not factor in much in these fights. I get the hunch, Wlad with his excellent jab, right, and clinching skills would take a decision or score a late round TKO over Holyfield though its not a prediction I feel comfortable making.
In addition, I think both had better inside skills and fighting spirit than Wlad. On the outside Wlad would beat Holyfield I have no doubt, but if Holyfield gets inside on his and puts him out of his comfort zone and cracks him on an ongoing basis, how is Wlad going to react? Is he going to go toe to toe as Bowe did? Is he going to fire uppercuts the way Lewis did? I don't think he can do either, the only thing I think he can do is try to keep Holyfield on the outside, which is somewhat of a one dimentional approach to the situation.