What if Douglas didn't get up in round 8 and Tyson fought Holyfield in 1990

The Tyson that beat Spinks would have done the exact same thing to Holyfield. And I'm not even a Tyson fan. In fact, I rooted for Holyfield in their 2 later bouts. But a young motivated Tyson with Rooney at his side would have steamrolled Evander. Really, if Riddick Bowe could beat the crap out of a prime Evander twice, Tyson might have killed him.

 

I think that the time spent in prison really effected Tyson and while he was clearly in decline he would have been far better than the version that Holyfield fought in 96. Also Holyfield in 1990 was several pounds lighter than in 96 and may not have as easily man handled Tyson like he would later on.

I think it would have been a much closer fight but I'd still think Holyfield would win. Tyson's head movement and skills were already in decline and I think it would take a prime Tyson to beat Holyfield anything else wouldn't be enough.

 

mike beats him i believe in a competitive fight....mike was messed up before that night though..he changed the minute he met robin...after her he lost his mojo

 

So let's say this is basically the same as the Tyson from Ruddock I vs. Holyfield from the Foreman fight. Tyson was guaranteed to lose to someone even if Douglas had stayed down and that's with or without being sent off to prison. He was better conditioned for Ruddock, but he was never the same fighter as when he had Rooney and Lott as trainers, someone was going to get him, but perhaps not Evander (my bets would be on Bowe as the most likely to beat him then). Mike was a different fighter as early as the first Bruno fight in 1989. His defensive ability and combination punching was severely deteriorated, but I still believe he had enough to beat Holyfield in a hard battle had their fight happened then. Holy was tough as hell, but he was very easy to drag into a brawl at that time, and that would have played well into Tyson's style.

Great article here by 'The Ring' magazine in 1991 after the first Ruddock bout explaining in detail how Tyson's skills & style had diminished from 1989 onwards.
http://www.miketysonboxingmemorabilia.com/1991.html

 

:good Agreed!!

 

No, if he had won it would have made no difference. If he could get away with beating Douglas without training seriously what incentive would he have to train hard for Holyfield? At that point I don't think he would have respected Holyfield win or lose

 

That was a very long ten count!

But regardless, Tyson already started a patn to self-destruction and the outcome would be the same.

 

2 words... classic forum:good

 

I have 85-88 Tyson beating Holy but since yer saying 1990 I'll go with Holyfield by knockout. Tyson's prime was in 85-88.

 

what he said tyons never beats holyfield never:good

 

not at fathering

This content is protected

children anyways

 

I think some of you might be a little short sighted on the matter regarding Tyson vs Holyfield using mental strength as a crutch as to why Holyfield would win instead of looking at styles. If you think from a stylistic point of view that Evander takes it then I will happily concede, though I will agree to disagree.

As for the fight. Had Tyson beaten Douglas on the basis that Buster stayed down or was counted out for that fight, I tend to think it would have been an eye opener for Tyson. Now even if Tyson uses this as proof that he's invincible, he would only apply that attitude if he didn't respect his opponent. He always respected Holyfield and considering that he was going to get paid $30 million dollars in 1990 for facing Evander Holyfield it suggests that this was going to be a Super Fight.

In 1990 Holyfield was not developed or seasoned enough to have dealt with Mike Tyson. You see Holyfield's inconsistencies stem from his propensity to fight up and down to his level of competition which is why he looks good against elite fighters but sometimes makes mediocre fighters look good in the process. So in this case Mike Tyson would have brought out his best. But in 1990 Evander Holyfield's best wouldn't have been enough. Tyson still had the fluidity, stamina and speed to go a hard 12 rounds. At that time Holyfield didn't have the tough fights at Heavyweight (Bowe x3, Mercer, etc) that would have prepared him for Mike Tyson.

When Evander Holyfield beat Mike Tyson in 1996 there were a number of factors that contributed to his win. First it should be acknowledged that it was not a matter of styles that prevented Mike from winning rather it was the execution of a game plan and confidence to carry it through. Both Tyson-Holyfield were winnable affairs for either party. So its clear its not a styles thing. Tyson had been inactive for years and considering how much Holyfield had left in the tank, its also pretty clear that Tyson was the one who wasn't ready for Holyfield, a fighter who fought the division's best while Tyson was in jail and inactive.

So takings styles and circumstance into account, Tyson UD12 (7-5/8-4)

 

even if tyson had won, he doulgas would have already exposed tyson's flaws. once tyson left rooney, he became an inferior fighter in terms of in-ring skills. now, 1990 version of holyfield liked to brawl which wouldnt be wise. even when holy beat tyson in 96', he used smart tactics lke tying tyson up to avoid getting into a slugfest. could see holy fetting dropped by tyson but getting up and winning a tough decision.

 

Good point. It's not like the people around him wouldn't tell him "Mike forget him you'll knock him out".

 

Exact same outcome that you saw in '96. Tyson had already lost his trainer, his skills, and his drive to train hard. If the fight took place back then I just don't see how the result would've been any different.

Unless maybe he hired Rooney back... but if that loss to Douglas wasn't incentive enough to hire him back, then I don't see why Tyson would do it after a win.