What Were Your Thoughts,, On Holyfield Moving Up To Heavyweight?

I was pretty impressed once he beat Dokes, but doubted his chances against Iron Mike.

I had no idea he'd end up a four-time world champ and #4 ATG (in my book).

 

I always thought he had a more than 50% chance for two reasons:

1. Tyson had shown vulnerabilities against taller fighters who could use their advantages and tie him up whilst outmuscling him on the inside. Heck Quick Tillis gave a 20-year-old Tyson fits. Holyfield was quicker, younger, better conditioned and a different class of fighter. Simply put, he would have been the best fighter Tyson would have faced and his first big test - one which i think he could fail because of his vulnerabilities.

2. Holyfield was not in the slightest bit intimidated by Tyson and had a cast-iron jaw and the deepest reservoir of courage of any heavyweight champion in recent history. A lot of Tyson's power pre-Douglas came from his ability to intimidate his opponents and frighten them. He was never going to do that to Holyfield and that would mean he would lack one of his key advantages before the fight.

 

Apparently you're not read up on the '84 Olympic trials. Google it.

Evander always was aiming for Tyson. It was just a matter of time, and he (Evander) knew it (so did Tyson). If Tyson thought Evander of '96 was a rough dude just imagine if he had to face a 'faster' Heavyweight World Champion in the Evander of November 1991. Too bad it never came about. He looked as nervous in the '91 fight announcement press conference as he did the '97 rematch press conference. I knew right then, both times...

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And oh yeah, Tyson couldn't work with or against a jab before prison, or in the '84 trials against the Real Deal, and he sure didn't learn one while he was in the pokie.

Your eyes weren't lying. Case closed.

 

I thought the thread was asking what I thought about Evander moving up to heavy and imo he wouldent have been as successful without the juice.

 

Fair opinion, but are you assuming though that Holyfield was the only heavyweight of that era juicing? I’ve no doubt it was a very level playing field.

 

Ofcourse Evander wasent the only one but Mike wasent one of them.

 

Tyson has admitted using a fake, um, appendage filled with someone else's urine to pass drug tests. But of course he's clean, he just did it because he liked playing with the whizzinator.

 

That was for coke and smoke not for the juice.

 

I went with the consensus of the time,Fergy. I thought that Holyfield would do well among the bigger boys and earn a lot of money but that Tyson would be a step too far.

 

At the time they were looking to see if anyone could possibly dethrone this force of nature Mike Tyson. Yea it was good. Holyfield had alot of respect as a fighter even then but not sure what kind of a heavyweight he would be.

 

I remember sitting at the bar watching Tyson vs Carl Williams. This dude next me telling me Holyfield was the guy. He was the one that was gonna do it. He was sure.
Then Tyson knocked out the Truth with 1 shot.

Snake Smith you were right

 

How would you know who did and who didn't?

No one accused The Real Deal of using 'roids when they got in the ring at the Olympic trials. Do you see the point?

 

No I don't see your point. Holyfield competed in the 1984 Olympic trials as a light heavyweight. In 1986 he was a junior heavyweight then moved up to cruiser weight and it wasn't until 1988 Holyfield moved up to Heavyweight. You keep bringing up the 1984 trials but Holyfield didn't move up to Heavyweight until 1988 4 years later.
The thread is asking when Holyfield moved up to Heavyweight in 1988 nothing about the 1984 trials. What Im saying and in my opinion when Holyfield moved up in 1988 and was successful in the heavyweight division he was juicing.