Tyson or Holyfield: who was dirtier?

Tyson was more blatant, Holyfield more effective

 

Tyson.

Holyfield was better at using his head, he was the master of the “intentional accidental headbutt”. Tyson wasn’t as good at that. He tried to headbutt Ruddock in the first round the first fight and it wasn’t very subtle.

Both guys could use their elbows at times, but Tyson more often, or more obvious. He threw deliberate elbows at Spinks, Bruno (both times), Biggs, Botha. Holyfield threw an obvious elbow at Ruiz in the last round of the first fight, but I can’t remember any other obvious ones.

Tyson loved throwing that “**** you” punch after the bell. Ruddock (4-5 times in 18 completed rounds), Bruno, Holyfield, etc…Also hit Halpin and Bruno when they were on the canvas.

Some of the Bruno stuff was justifiable retaliation though IMO. Bruno was throwing a shitload of rabbit punches (an extremely dangerous foul) at Mike. Bruno was one of the worst rabbit punchers.

This content is protected

This content is protected

This content is protected

 

Tyson

 

Tyson's dirty tactics seemed out of desperation, Evander's looked planned

 

Holyfield was more subtle he had butting down to a science whereas Tyson lashed out due to frustration two very diffident types of foulers the question is who would you rather face the clever dirty boxer or out of control dirty boxer

 

Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear off.

I struggle to see how anything Holyfield ever did was worse than that.

 

Tyson was more of a roughhouser. Holy was an intentional fouler

 

I think Tyson would use other fouls as a means of intimidation.

Not when he would hit guys on the canvas (getting too excited) or bites (frustration and anger), but other fouls such as late hits or elbows.

“You clinch too much, I’ll make you pay with this forearm”

“The bell rings, but I’m still going to hit you anyway”

 

Holyfield all the way.

You are comparing a man who sometimes let his temper get teh better of him, to a scientific fouler who almost turned it into an art form.

 

If we are asking who did the single worst thing out of the two of them, then Tyson has got it locked down.

However if we are asking who was the dirtier fighter, then I woudl rather fight a man with Tyson's take on the matter.

 

We finally agreed on something.

Tyson could foul either by accident due to his rough and tough style involving lots of aggressive hooks and front foot pressuring, or he might foul because he was desperate/angry and attempting to even the odds (not that it made it ok). There are plenty of fights where Tyson makes a pretty honest effort such as Tillis, Berbick, or Thomas where I don't recall seeing anything egregious.

Holyfield on the other was not only dirty, he was very subtle and it was a regular part of his tool kit. If he were a character in a fighting game, his fouls would just be included in his special moves with the instructions on how to do them. He could be winning a fight and just throws a head butt for the hell of it because the opportunity presented itself and plays innocent victim.

 

Then there are calculations like:

"If you can do it on the referees blind side, it probably didn't happen."

And:

"The first time you do it, it's just a warning, so the first one is free."

 

Well, Holy’s frequently practiced and less blatant fouls (on appearances as viewed by less trained and less familiar eyes) don’t make them any less dirty.

Holyfield’s propensity to foul wasn’t happenstance or a symptom of “in the moment” reaction, it was pre med and systemic.

True, hard to exceed Mike’s biting episode as THE worst individual example - but then we are looking at this Holy-stically (apologies - simply could not resist).

As far as comparing the outcomes of their infractions, sure, Evander might’ve lost an ear lobe but Hasim Rahman gained a whole new, very dangerous and grotesque looking second head.

And let’s face it, in terms of contrived execution, Evander’s simultaneous head butt and nut punch on Mike “TNT” Dokes is literally unsurpassed.

I guess both the head and hand of God were, justifiably invoked.

As to Mike “TNT”? Testicles Now Toast.

 

Evan "Way of the third fist" Fields.