What if in 1991 Tyson and Holyfield switched opponents?

Same outcomes. I dont see old Foreman being able to punch harder faster or do anything more than Ruddock did to Tyson. Tyson would simply pound away on Foreman for 12 rounds. He was still pretty good at that time.
Holyfield would beat Ruddock too. Holy was too quick and too smart to not be able to get around Ruddocks left. Holy would win by Ko or UD. Same outcomes in my mind.

 

Foreman would manhandle Tyson, Holy would outbox Ruddock

 

Foreman by KO. Styles make fights and was taught by Damato NEVER to fight a fighter like Foreman, thus he never did. And Holy by decision. Ruddock was really just a onehit wonder.

 

Yeah a lot of people think Foreman manhandles Tyson and beats him up, but really even if he could push him around, what next? He was slow, very slow, not a combination puncher and Tyson even in that diminished state was quick enough and elusive enough to make Foreman miss and pay big time. I just cant see Foreman taking the same type of punishment he took from some of the other guys and stay standing against Tyson. Look at the Stewart fight. There was just too many openings created by his lack of speed, and Tyson could still punch hard and fast at that time. Tyson TKO mid fight if I had to pick. All this battle of the minds crap is just that for that time in Tysons life. I think at that time Tyson was still a believer in himself, but post prison, I could see that Foreman stopping Tyson late because Tyson knew he no longer had it.

As far as Ruddock and Evander, I can see Evander catching Ruddock off of a counter and hurting him. Evander was fast as hell, and Ruddock would get brave with his left and Evander would unload a counter lefthook right on the button. I can see Ruddock going down but getting up and losing a decision too.

 

The 1991 Tyson would duck/squat into Foreman's power. Foreman's left jab was no joke. In fact it is vastly underrated. Don't get me wrong, it would go some rounds and Tyson would land periodically, I'm just of the opinion Foreman manhandles him mentally....then physically.

Yes, Holy could have caught and hurt Ruddock, perhaps even stopping him. It's safer to suggest a thorough routing as Holy had more gears and ring generalship.....and I was a HUGE fan of both.

 

So who was out there that he could have fought that was like Foreman? :huh

 

No one. I just remeber an interview with him or one of his trainers where they mention this. And ther is always the great story of Tyson talking to King when king kept bringing up Foreman and Tyson said, "**** you, you fight him if you love him so much. I'm not" true story told in the boxing rags back in that time. Tyson would have been made for Foreman at that time. Foreman was TOUGH and could sock. Tyson was weakwilled and I think would have been intimidated and smashed like a bug.

 

Tyson certainly didn't want any part of Foreman at the time. However, I feel he could elude the big plodder much like Morrison did, and walk away with a dull decision. Had that fight not happened, we would all probably predict Tommy would get manhandled and sparked out by big George as well.

Likewise, I would favor Holyfield over Ruddock. By this point, Ruddock had no jab and was content loading up with big wild uppercuts and eating punishment. Holyfield would probably get wobbled a few times, but I think he outclasses Razor..perhaps stops him a straight right when he tries an ill advised uppercut from too far out like he did Douglas.

 

If the story of Tyson's fear is true Foreman would have bombed him out early.
If false, Foreman would have bombed him out early.

 

Foreman smashed no one like a bug in his comeback. He struggled and got hit a lot by the better fighters, and none compared to Tyson. All of sudden hes going to take a young strong Tyson and turn him into an amatuer??
I think Tyson mental flaws became more apparent after prison, but after seeing what he went through in two consecutive Ruddock fights, at that time, noone can question his will. Sure Ruddock wasnt pushing back as Foreman woud try, but he was landing hard and clean with his best shots on Tyson, and I just dont think the slow Foreman would do much more than eat huge counter lefthooks as he tried to come forward. Tyson was not Frazier he was bigger and stronger and could grapple, move and tie up pretty well on the inside when he didnt want to fight.
The comeback of Foreman was calculated and cautious, but still the glaring lack of speed of foot and hand was easily exposed by the better fighters and some of the bad ones too.
Foreman couldnt even corner Tommy Morrison and allowed him to do circles around him in close, and this was a fighter with stamina problems and a far weaker chin. Foreman was simply too slow against top opposition.

 

86-89 Tyson however - UD.

 

Exactly, I don't care if Tyson shits himself in the ring at the sight of the man, Morrison himself was horrifed, the chances of Foreman bombing him out are slim to none.

:happy

 

Of course, its a logical prediction, but I think some forget how disgustingly slow Foreman was at that time.
It took George what, 11 rounds to finally land on weak chinned Moorer, who was flat footed, slow, lethargic, and stood right in front of George?