What if Holyfield hadn't moved up?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Russell, Jul 29, 2007.


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  1. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    What if he'd floated between lower weight classes throughout his career?

    Would he have remained undefeated for a long peroid of time? His entire career?

    Would there be anyone to make him as great as he'd become later?

    Would he have more success not fighting guys that outweighed him by 20 plus pounds, or less?

    Thoughts, opinions?
     
    Russell, Jul 29, 2007
    Russell, Jul 29, 2007
    #1
  2. DamonD

    DamonD Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It would've been practically impossible for him to do so...the real money was at HW, and the media pressure & cash offers for him to move up would got bigger and bigger until there would've been no way he could pass it up.

    Considering how well he did at HW, it's probably a given that he could've dominated at Cruiser for many years.
     
    DamonD, Jul 30, 2007
    DamonD, Jul 30, 2007
    #2
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    It is likley that he would have been forced to move up simply because he would have been unable to make weight.
     
    janitor, Jul 30, 2007
    janitor, Jul 30, 2007
    #3
  4. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Hurm.

    I don't know. If the steroid allegations are true the man definitely could of lingered at lower weights for a while.

    Not saying he should of, or that it would even be smart to of done so... Just sayin'.
     
    Russell, Jul 30, 2007
    Russell, Jul 30, 2007
    #4
  5. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He would've been king of the cruisers for a long time.
     
    Titan1, Jul 30, 2007
    Titan1, Jul 30, 2007
    #5
  6. achillesthegreat

    achillesthegreat FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE Full Member

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    He's already the best cruiser ever so that pretty much sums it up. There was nothing left to do.
     
    achillesthegreat, Jul 31, 2007
    achillesthegreat, Jul 31, 2007
    #6
  7. ThinBlack

    ThinBlack Boxing Addict banned

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    He would've retired as the undefeated Cruiserweight King.
     
    ThinBlack, Mar 13, 2012
    ThinBlack, Mar 13, 2012
    #7
  8. Hands of Iron

    Hands of Iron #MSE Full Member

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    We wouldnt have the numerous classics he had a hand in generating (for my money: Bowe I & II, Dokes, Cooper, Tyson I, Foreman).

    And Tyson would probably have a greater legacy at Heavyweight.
     
    Hands of Iron, Mar 13, 2012
    Hands of Iron, Mar 13, 2012
    #8
  9. Guyfawkes

    Guyfawkes Than who was phone?! Full Member

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    Tyson's career look a hell of a lot better, that's for sure
     
    Guyfawkes, Mar 13, 2012
    Guyfawkes, Mar 13, 2012
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  10. exocet76

    exocet76 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I don't think he had much choice as there just wasn't the competition or the pay days at Cruiser. We would have missed some classics if he had not gone to heavy weight.
     
    exocet76, Mar 13, 2012
    exocet76, Mar 13, 2012
    #10
  11. ironchamp

    ironchamp Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Agreed. I think that probably would be more of a factor than media pressure or super fights.


    To answer the question, I suppose his first loss would have always been north of 190.
     
    ironchamp, Mar 13, 2012
    ironchamp, Mar 13, 2012
    #11
  12. MAG1965

    MAG1965 Loyal Member banned

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    no way he could have stayed at cruiserweight all those years. Maybe Hearns would have moved up in 1988 and fought him or Spinks moved down. Nothing was for Evander at cruiserweight. Nothing ever is much there.
     
    MAG1965, Mar 13, 2012
    MAG1965, Mar 13, 2012
    #12
  13. Hands of Iron

    Hands of Iron #MSE Full Member

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    He accomplished all he needed to in beating Qawi (x2) and DeLeon in addition to a handful of others rated at 190lbs (Parker, Tillman, Ocasio).

    Holyfield was rated right underneath Spinks and Tyson at Heavyweight. That was before he'd even had a single fight above 190. Similar to Hearns being the No. 1 middlweight challenger before ever fighting at the weight. Pretty incredible.
     
    Hands of Iron, Mar 13, 2012
    Hands of Iron, Mar 13, 2012
    #13
  14. Azzer85

    Azzer85 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Tyson careers would would have been much better post prison

    but who wins the title off Douglas?
     
    Azzer85, Mar 14, 2012
    Azzer85, Mar 14, 2012
    #14
  15. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    And he'd have run out of credible cruisers to fight.
     
    Stevie G, Mar 14, 2012
    Stevie G, Mar 14, 2012
    #15
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