Puzzling Question About Tyson

It was arguably close in the scoring in the first 5 rounds. But in terms of who was being hurt and dominated physically and mentally, it was Holyfield's fights. One of the things that strikes me most every time I see it, is how Tyson was actually instigating most of the holding early on, hanging on for dear life.
Tyson was getting hurt long before the 6th round, that's all you need to know. Give him credit for fighting so well and for so long, he was getting beat up.

I don't think Holyfield butted as any special tactic to swing the fight at any particular moment - that was just the way he fought throughout the fight and throughout his career. And Tyson was a headbutter too, his entire career, so I never saw the fuss about all that.

 

But the scoring of rounds only shows the amount of success they are having landing scoring blows, it doesn't tell the story of the physical and mental toll being taken on the fighters.
In regards of the mental and physical toll, Holyfield was dominating Tyson unmistakedly. It's not surprising Tyson was about to hit a wall, and Holyfield move up a gear - headbutts or otherwise.
Post-prison Tyson wasn't mentally ready for a tough fight going beyond 4 or 5 rounds. And Holyfield came on strong around the 5th and 6th rounds in many of his better fights.

There's nothing unusual or untoward about it. It all adds up. The headbutt really was not a major factor, Tyson's wasn't about to stop Holyfield or start fighting like he used to or suddenly find a load of physical stamina and mental resolve to get the upper hand. It just wasn't happening.

Tyson used to butt too. Of course he didn't need to butt to defeat those guys.
Likewise, Holyfield beats the **** out of Tyson without the butts too.

These two were great fighters. They fought rough but that's not why they won their fights.
:good

 

Why couldn't he adapt? Because Holyfield was more skilled than any of those guys, he timed Tyson, constantly counterpunched Tyson, fired back immediately when Tyson landed, he broke his rythm and backed him up. He made Tyson miss a fair bit too, Tyson tried to use his jab, Holyfield made him miss that too. On the outside and on the way in Holyfield would be first and when Tyson came inside Holy would fire uppercuts and other short sharp shots. Holyfield kept his hands up to block and immediately counter, Tyson's hands were lower and he took them flush. Then you have to bare in mind the pace was much higher than Tyson likes to fight, Tyson likes time to stalk before exploding, Holyfield wasn't allowing him that time, he wasn't allowing him to come forward on the front foot. Tyson would be punched or pushed back, losing momentum in any of his attacks - the old saying push a puncher on the back foot and you take away his power, that's what Holyfield did. Whenever Mike crouched tolaunch an attack Holyfield would jump on him. Holyfield's punches were also much shorter than Tyson's meaning he could be first

I don't buy all this 'the punches didn't hurt it was the headbutts'. None of those punches were 1punch KO type punches but they stung they pushed Mike back and if you take enough of them you'll get ko'd, butts or not

I'm a big Tyson fan and I used to say Prime Tyson beats Prime Holyfield, but for the stylistic reasons highlighted above I no longer believe this

 

The punches definitely started wearing down Tyson, but theres no doubt Holyfield used his head to take the momentum back in that fight but thats part of facing a savvy legend like Holy.
Tyson wouldnt have gotten hit that much in his prime. He never allowed himself to get hit that much, and was far more elusive. That fight realistically was not fought with the highest of skill. Both guys standing in front of each other, Tyson loads up with a big shot, Holy feints it and shoves a righthand in Tysons face.

 

Serious talk? He was coked, cheque dropped to the eyeballs in most of his fights.

 

I just rewatched it today, the headbutt in round 6 (I think) was the worst and Tyson was really hurt by it but ironically it looked like Tyson was trying to . Holyfield was using his head more in that round

Tyson fought well in round 5 and the beggining of 6, he was moving to the left to get his left hook off and worked the body hard in both rounds. Holyfield's low blow in 6 really hurt Mike then he took over, Mike tried to get that left hook off when tired and Holy countered it with the bodyshot that put Mike down

Tyson would jab more, move his head more. Holyfield would throw more, not tire, more combinations, more pressure, so Tyson might have even more problems getting himself set. Holyfield would still be the shorter puncher and shorter punches get their first on the inside. He'd still picking off punches and countering Tyson. He'd still be the most accurate puncher Tyson had been in with, still get him with the uppercut inside. I can't see him butting and low blow as much but I don't think he'd need that with his higher workrate. He'd still be the better fighter down the stretch. Still have the heart of a lion that matches fire with fire

The main drawback is Holyfield wasn't as strong then so would have more issues pushing Tyson back and he may have been less durable