Tua vs Holyfield circa '96-'97?

He most definitely can and most likely would have in this fight scenario. The question is, would Holyfield just want to stick and move knowing full well he can win a safe UD or would he want to give an impressive performance for the fans against an opponent he supposed to defeat ala Cooper?

 

Lennox Lewis VERY close to knocking Holyfield out a couple of times in those fights too, something he didn't even TRY against David Tua.

 

stop talking to yourself atsch

 

:deal

 

Holy used Tua to prepare for Tyson. Holy was getting beat up by Tua until 3 weeks into training. I would have to say that Tua would have stopped Holyfield around this time if Holyfield had not sparred with him and I think Tyson would have to. Tua sparring Holyfield was probably the best preparation for Tyson and had this fight happened after their training camp, Holy would have beat him up.

 

Holyfield fought a very foolish fight against Cooper in front of his hometown. Had he fought Tua the same way he would have been knocked out, but Holyfield learned how to hold back his warrior spirit in the mid 90's and box a little more methodically. In fact I think Holyfield became a better heavyweight around 96. No Cooper was not bettern than Tua, but Holyfield would have been a lot better facing Tua around this time. Had the 96 version of Holy faced Cooper in 92 or whenever they fought, Holyfield would have handled him a lot easier.