Which of these fighters, if any, do you make Hollyfield favourite over?

Marciano at heaveyweight but not at curisurweight.

 

Ali - Ali (Holy hated fighting guys who moved well)
Louis - Holy
Liston - Holy (very close fight)
Lewis - Lewis (also very close)
Frazier - Holy (great fight, though)
Holmes - Holmes
Tyson - Holy
Marciano - Holy (similar to Frazier)
Dempsey - Holy (see Joe and Rocky)
Foreman - Foreman

 

I'd be curious and interested to here your reasoning and thoughts behind making these picks?

Thanks.

 

The only ones I would give him a chance to beat are Marciano and Lewis. He loses to the rest.

 

I think it's safe to say people underrate a prime Holyfield.

 

I think he is getting over rated when People say only Ali could beat Holyfiled.

I mean I cant see Evander beating Marciano, Louis, Dempsey, or even Holmes.

 

I would not favour him over any of them with the possible exception of Mike Tyson and the the only reason I consider that up for grabs is because of the way their actual fights turned out.

 

I agree with Sweet Pea here, even though he tended to be inconsistent throughout his career Holyfield get's a raw deal when discussing head-to-head matchups. I think he'd beat a few more from the list (or at least stands a good chance of doing so) than some people think. I picked him over Marciano, Dempsey and Tyson (more often than not) with a few close calls too.


Lewis though? Personally I struggle to envisage Holyfield beating Lewis at any stage in his career (the trade-happy version of the early 90's would get himself KO'd). I'm intrigued to hear your reasoning and analysis on why you think Evander could pull this one off? (taking into consideration that a 'still very game' Holyfield got convincing outpointed by Lewis twice in reality).


To be fair I reckon that if you took the better assets of the 'higher workrate' version of Holyfield and combine that with the more stragically astute mature version who beat Tyson then he might give Lewis a very close fight, perhaps beat him. You can never tell I suppose. As it was Holyfield was never quite the complete fighter, stylistially speaking at any point to beat Lewis IMO.

 

I'd say Holyfield is underrated.
But that's the story of his career.
Guys who watch fights, write and talk **** were always saying he couldn't beat this guy and that guy. Many picked Douglas to beat him, and then said Tyson was gonna slaughter him, no one gave him much credit for KOing Douglas with one punch. Bowe was supposed to knock him into retirement in their rematch. Tyson was supposed to literally KILL him in 1996, and again Tyson was supposed to knock him out in the rematch.
Even recently Fres Oquendo was picked to KO him late or embarrass him.

Holyfield lost a few he was supposed to win, and won a few he was supposed to lose.
But overall he was a proven fighter with a ton of character.
Listening to some of you say "they all beat him, except maybe ...", I'm thinking I wouldn't want to bet against him or make him underdog in any fight. But of course people did, and then just made excuses when he won.

 

Freddie Roach rates Holfyield #3 heavyweight of all time. I'd say it's fair to say he's at the bottom half of the top 10 at best, probably just outside it.

He'd always have beaten Tyson IMO. A prime Tyson doesn't bring anymore power to the table, just better offense, and defense as well it must be said. But Holyfield was past his prime when he fought Tyson over both fights, and people tend to forget that. He was still damn excellent, possesed good skills, but never quite had the same mobility and quickness. It's a debatable topic when exactly Holyfield was at his peak. I'd say the early 90's.

 

Holyfield has a fine resume.

Douglas, Bowe, Moorer, and Tyson. Foreman and Holmes were fine wins, although both had seen better years. He was out-weighed considerably by both oldies, especially Foreman.