Will history be kind to Evander Holyfield?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013.


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  1. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Anybody apart from hart. Top contender - Number 1 contender, no difference. He had his eliminator with Hart. The next champion defended against him. He earnt his shot and took it. Until that moment I cannot call him the best boxer on the planet.

    In 100 years people might view boxing differently and aggression might again be the main criteria meaning people would look back and say "so just cos pea danced liked a ballet fighter we should consider him p4p number 1 even though Chavez pressed at every opportunity?"

    It's much fairer judging fights under the context of the time.

    I don't think race played a part at all, no. The ref said at the start he'd favour aggression. Hart was the aggressor for more rounds than Johnson. Open and shut.
     
    lufcrazy, Mar 11, 2013
    lufcrazy, Mar 11, 2013
    #91
  2. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Johnson's own corner urged him to pick up the pace, but Hart outworked him in the second half of the fight. Outclassing someone " when they felt like it " means what? It means they had their moments, but didn't risk enough to open up over the course of the fight to win it without question.

    Hart for his part was limited but tough. He had a solid punch. There is an interview that I posted here from Boxing Illustrated, " Titled a case for Marvin Hart " where Johnson himself said Hart beat him.

    As for Johnson, things went his way in a few fights. He fouled Jeannette, and lost but kept his title. How? There is also the O'Brien fight where some regional sources said O'brien was the better. If they really wanted the white guy to win, O'Brien gets the decision. But it was called a draw.
     
    Mendoza, Mar 11, 2013
    Mendoza, Mar 11, 2013
    #92
  3. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Outclassing means OUTCLASSING... That means he's clearly a better pugilist than Hart... That accounts of the fight state as much. What good is aggression if it does NOTHING. Reports make it clear.. Hart wasn't doing any damage nor was he even landing much. Doing a Rocky Balboa impression doesn't mean he was winning the fight. After the fight just LOOK AT THE PICS.. Hart was a bloody mess... Johnson looked like he just got out of the shower... Johnson did THE MOST damage... AND outclassied him...
     
    KuRuPT, Mar 11, 2013
    KuRuPT, Mar 11, 2013
    #93
  4. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    See that's where you're wrong, it did mean he was winning the fight.

    Judging a fight based on a guys face at the end of it is always a dodgey concept. Should Hopkins have got the Dawson decision? Look at the faces!
     
    lufcrazy, Mar 11, 2013
    lufcrazy, Mar 11, 2013
    #94
  5. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

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    History's too afraid of Holyfield to not be kind to him.
     
    the cobra, Mar 11, 2013
    the cobra, Mar 11, 2013
    #95
  6. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I don't rank purely on resume.
     
    lufcrazy, Mar 12, 2013
    lufcrazy, Mar 12, 2013
    #96
  7. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Never saw any of the pics outside of the shot of the bad trunks photo. Who wins can depends on how you score a fight.

    1 ) The guys who throws more, and is the aggressor

    OR

    2 ) the guy who lands cleaner but throws less, and did very little the 2nd half of the fight.

    Adam can ring in here, as he re-searched this fight for his book. The bottom line is this was a high stakes fight, and Johnson did not deliver.
     
    Mendoza, Mar 13, 2013
    Mendoza, Mar 13, 2013
    #97
  8. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Really.. what it certainly isn't on impact... because Johnson had a bigger impact on the sport than anybody you named above him.. or really.. most anybody in history for that matter.
     
    KuRuPT, Mar 13, 2013
    KuRuPT, Mar 13, 2013
    #98
  9. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    A combination of resume, achievement and h2h ability.
     
    lufcrazy, Mar 13, 2013
    lufcrazy, Mar 13, 2013
    #99
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