Wlad klitschko V holyfield in 99?

Holyfield was still a good fighter in 1999, gave Lewis a tough night in their second fight. Wlad as others have said was green AF then back and wouldn't have had Manny in his corner either.

Evander wins this for me.

 

I actually thought that Holyfield edged the rematch against Lewis but no one complained because all the fuss that was made about Lewis been robbed in the first fight. There was no way they were going give Holyfield the decision in the rematch if it was close.

 

But was always a journeyman.

 

In Lewis/Holyfield I, Lewis came in with vigor and his Jab was consistent throughout this encounter. Since the Jab was regularly setting up the Lewis power shots, Holyfield perhaps fought an overly cautious bout, looking for safe opportunities to strike but, apart for a moment or two, few came.

Holyfield put on a better performance in the second fight, while Lewis under-performed. This made it look a more competitive bout. Lewis’ use of his Jab was, on this occasion, erratic. Although, some credit for this has to go to Holyfield, who had adjusted his approach and technique a little to try and dissuade Lewis from putting it out there.

The extent to which Holyfield's change of tack had an effect is debatable, given that Lewis seemed to be able to re-establish his Jab sporadically, at various points over the twelve. And so, I think the competitiveness of the bout was as much to do with Lewis taking a cavalier attitude towards Holyfield, the second time around, with a loosely put together strategy of ‘go for the KO!’

Holyfield, on the other hand, had come to win and this time, with a renewed sense of purpose, a different box of tricks and a bit more energy.


By the way - either version of Holy beats Wlad in ’99.

 

My initial thoughts was in the rematch, Lewis just seem sluggish compared to the first fight. Holyfield was more aggressive in the 2nd fight and though Lewis was seen as the bigger stronger puncher and still landed his share of power punches, if anything, Holyfield's single shots seem to have more effect on Lewis than the other way round and he seem rocked on several occasions though you couldn't say that he was ever in any serious trouble. It was still a close fight which my first reaction was that Holyfield could have edged It. It was IMO, certainly closer than the judges scorecards that gave it to Lewis in terms of rounds, 7-5, 8-4 and 9-3.

 

Either Wlad shuts Holyfield out or gets knocked out himself.

 

I think it would be too much of a step up for Wlad at that stage of his career. That 99 Holyfield still had enough left to fight to a near draw with prime Lewis.

 

So did Holyfield for that matter

 

IMO Lewis won the first fight and Holyfield won the second. This Holyfield would be a challenge for Wlad. I could see Holyfield taking the decision or knocking Wlad out.

 

All depends on how much Holyfield could push Wlad outside his comfort zone at this point in Wlad's career. Ppl bring up the Purrity fight, watch it, Wlad lost because of Wlad. Nothing Purrity really did other than being able to take an inhuman amount of punishment and keep walking forward. Wlad a huge man did not know or was unaware on how to pace himself and grew tired. He didn't really adjust until after the Brewster disaster. So if Holyfield could take what Wlad dishes AND still have enough in the tank to push Wlad he may get him late for a tko win. Prime Wlad controls Holy with the Jab.

 

Using the Purrity fight as a basis to analyze this matchup is next to meaningless as Holyfield was levels above him. He wouldn't be restricted solely to a gameplan of relying on Wlad to fatigue himself and he wouldn't be plodding forward taking nearly as much punishment. The big thing for me here is 90s pre prime Wlad didn't yet have the tools to neutralize Holy's offense. He didn't control distance nearly as well, and didn't master clinching. Holy would be able to jab his way in and land a lot of short combos at close range.

 

That is a fair point I brought up Purrity because many ppl in this thread are using it as a source to explain why Holyfield would win. Holyfield has much more offensive moves than Purrity ever had, that is true. It would be a different fight. I'm not sold on who would win. Wlad was a destroyer until he got destroyed by Sanders. In 1999 he went 7-0 with 7 stoppages. Probably the best two scalps being Axel Schulz and Phil Jackson that year if memory serves. Holyfield fought once a spirited losing effort to Lewis. However signs of Holyfields decline were there in 98 Vaughn Bean gave him a better than expected fight and immediately following Lewis, Holyfield entered the awful Ruiz trilogy.
Wlad was far better than both Bean and Ruiz even at this early point. I believe Holyfield may still have been a bridge too far at this stage of Wlad's career but I wouldn't bet my house on it.

 

That's how I see it.