Why did Mike Tyson fail to KO James Tillis in ‘86?

They fought twice.

 

The second fight was but the first was not. Your insistance that Holy was in his prime is quite frankly bizarre.

 

I eagerly await the next goal post shift.

This is just comedy.

 

I don't necessarily disagree with what you're saying but in some ways Holyfield in 1996 was actually better equipped to face Tyson. He'd bulked up considerably by this time and was physically stronger compared to when he faced Foreman for example. I also think by this time Holyfield was actually a smarter fighter and less gung ho than he was in the early 90s.

Look at this way could a 1991 version of Holyfield bully Tyson on inside in the clinches ? or would a younger Holyfield engage him in more of a shoot out ?

Holyfield definitely went through a bad patch during Moorer 1/Bowe 3 but he seemed to overcome whatever health issues he had and had some of his best performances of his career after vs Tyson 1, Moorer 2.

I'm not saying Holyfield was in his prime vs Tyson he was obviously fresher in the late 80s/early 90s. But with Holyfield bulking up and becoming physically stronger aswell as being less of a gung ho warrior. In some ways as i said he was better equipped to face Tyson at that time as crazy as that sounds.

 

For me Holyfield showed fantastic form against Tyson. He was sharp, tough and refusing to lose. He backed this up with a brilliant gameplan.

 

Well, yes, Holyfield was physically stronger but his hand speed and footwork were clearly declined compared to the fast, piston like combinations he threw in his 20's. Stamina was a little worse too, although he was a little sturdier and tougher. And yes, he was wiser with a little more technically sound.

Basically, trade offs, not necessarily linear improvements.

 

don't think anyone thought of it except Buster... Tyson's next 20 rivals, each of whom seemed better or much better than Tillis, probably just didn't analyze this simple and effective method.

 

i agree. In 91 Holyfield would have warred with Tyson and it would have been his undoing.

 

Holyfield was not absolute prime ... his absolute prime was Douglas .... by the time he fought Tyson he lost twice to Bowe ( once by KO ) , lost to Moorer in a fight he seemed to be suffering a cardiac condition and looked horrendous against blown up middleweight Bobby Czyz ... going into the Tyson fight Holyfield was a huge underdog , so much so that many feared for his safety ... he won because he not only matched up very well stylistically with that Tyson but that Tyson was no where as dedicated and focused as the pre-prison Tyson ...