What if? Tyson had fought Holyfield before Douglas?

I think prime, pre-prison Mike beats Holyfield. Evander wasn't that juiced up yet to employ the tactics from 1996 and his brawling style at that point would be tailor made for Mike.

 

Tyson by tough hard fought decision. Holyfield doesn't have the 83 inch Douglas reach and i don't think Holy's uppercut was as good as Busters.

That being said, an upset is possible. Holyfield had enough combo of skill, speed, combination punching and durability to give Mike a tough night.

Ultimately, i think Holyfield would struggle without his Evan field's physical strength. He can't bully Mike in clinches the way the 96 version could. Tyson has faster hands and hits harder so i think Mike hurts him more than he hurts Mike.

Mike by tough hard fought decision, 7-5 or 8-4.

 

i think people are also underestimating David Tua's role in Holyfield's win over 96 Tyson as Holyfield's sparring partner.

While Tua wasn't as quick as Mike, he was the only other short, stocky, hard hitting heavyweight with a great chin.

I don't think there were any Tyson types that Holyfield could have sparred with in 1990. No one had the combination of that power, height and durability.

 

I still give it to Evander.
The thing is that the range Evander loves to fight at, is the range Mike is the worst to fight at so Evander wins.
But one thing Evvander loved to do when he got hit was turn his brain off and slugging. But he got hit by George ,so if he could get hit by George I don't think Mike could do much.

But in Mikes book he said "If I fought Holyfield before prison, I would have knocked him out, I know it,he knows it"

 

Pretty much this.

Holyfield was significantly heavier and stronger in the mid 90s when he fought Tyson which allowed him to bully and nullify Tyson's offence on the inside.

In the late 80s Holyfield was still under 210 pounds and was having back and forth wars with the likes of Alex Stewart, Michael Dokes.

I think Tyson wins by TKO at this stage in both men's career Holyfield was too gung ho and not strong enough physically yet.

 

My opinion as well,

 

Holyfield wins from 89 on

 

I agree. The 1998 Tyson,which was as good as Mike got,would have been too much for Evander,but from '89 onwards Tyson started to forget all he had learnt,albeit remaining dangerous,and I'd have fancied Evander's chances from then on.