Prime Against Prime...

[SaadOffTheDeck]

That Bowe uppercut was after many, many blows when Holyfield was tired himself. George would be long gassed before Evander hit that wall. Not that it took him off his feet anyway. And Stylistically Bowe was a much tighter in fighter than George was, I don't think he hits Holyfield as easily with his bombs. Evander was adequate avoiding punches at the distance George liked to fight at and Evander was one of the more accurate heavyweights since Joe Louis. The main thing for me is the countering of Holyfield, he wouldn't miss George with that hook, and it hurt everyone he landed it on. Well, everyone except for, ironically- George Foreman.

As for the war mentality, there would certainly be exchanges but I have no doubt that Holyfield could stick to a gameplan and use side to side movement and box more than slug. He had no respect for Riddick and thought he could take his heart. He had more respect than that for a 40+ year old Foreman, no reason to believe he wouldn't be more wary against a young one.

A young Foreman was quicker than Bowe, had a better jab, and was a harder hitter.

When did Evander EVER stick to a gameplan and use side to side movement for a whole fight . . .ummm, NEVER!!!

He wasn't a better in-fighter and that is where Bowe busted Holyfield up.

He stuck to his gameplan in the Bowe rematch and in the Foreman fight. I never said he wouldn't engage, but you wouldn't be you without a massive exaggeration in your post. Then again, this is coming from the guy that thinks Evander would be in horrible danger trading with Jerry Quarry. So your expert eyes spotted some sort of toughness and chin deficiency lost on the rest of the world. He could trade with Foreman, quite successfully.

[Goodnight, Irene]

He can't hurt Foreman, though. If Holyfield had his attributes & Tyson's punch, it might --- hell, probably would --- be different...but he couldn't even hurt an obese Foreman in his 40's until fairly late-on in their fight, & was flat-out making Bert Cooper back off.

Punch-for-punch, Foreman would just steamroll Holyfield. I never rated Holyfield's power though, being honest. It just isn't what his fans make it out to be.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He can't hurt Foreman, though. If Holyfield had his attributes & Tyson's punch, it might --- hell, probably would --- be different...but he couldn't even hurt an obese Foreman in his 40's until fairly late-on in their fight, & was flat-out making Bert Cooper back off.

Punch-for-punch, Foreman would just steamroll Holyfield. I never rated Holyfield's power though, being honest. It just isn't what his fans make it out to be.

Maybe not, but it's much more than his detractors diminish it to. For me there is no fighter in history that he "can't" hurt. I have no doubt that he could hurt a prime version of Foreman. George could obviously hurt him too, but I don't see any scenario where Evander gets blown out by any fighter.

I'm firmly in the corner that "obese" Foreman had a herculean chin and Holyfield wobbled him more than anyone else. Yeah, it took a 15 punch combination. But he could throw combos like that at his best and I find it hard to envision George keeping up and making it punch for punch.

This isn't our first time here, we are both exceedingly confident in the fighters we favor.

[Goodnight, Irene]

True enough.

[jezzamundo]

Good topic.

Holyfield-Foreman: I favour Foreman by stoppage, Holy simply gets hit too much and a younger Foreman would land a lot more leather.
De La Hoya-Chavez (140): Tough call, at 140lb I'll take Chavez but only by a very small margin on points.
Hatton-Tszyu: Tszyu by KO or clear decision. I'm shocked that more people haven't mentioned this one. Tszyu was clearly not at his best when they fought and this was Hatton's career best performance. Still, Tszyu was taking over before the low blow, which may have altered the result. That said, Tszyu had the most trouble with pressure fighters like Hatton, so it would never be easy.
Lewis-Tyson: Could go either way, Lewis late or Tyson early. I favour Lewis.
Pryor-Cervantes: Don't know enough to make a call.
Jeffries-Johnson: Tough call, I'm 50:50 on this one.
Tunney-Dempsey: Dempsey KO.
Calzaghe-Hopkins (lets say at 168, Hopkins 2001 vs. Calzaghe 07): Hopkins in a close decision.

[Ambling Alp]

I am in almost exact agreement here. On the fence with Tunney-Dempsey.
Would lean toward Pryor over Cervantes. It would be exciting.
I think De La hoya -Chavez might be the most exciting.
Calzaghe-Hopkins might be more exciting that people might think.