6 Degrees of Holyfield

[jrc26]

Just like the game 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon. I challenge anyone to name a fighter 140 LBS and up, from 1940 and after, who fought for a major title, who you can't connect to Holyfield in 6 fights. I.E. : Leonard vs Hearns vs Barkley vs Toney vs Holyfield.

Obviously you could click away on this site but this is a great test for boxing masters who frequent this forum.

First challenge...Rockin Rodney Moore. I can get to Holyfield in four fights..FYI fights don't have to be title fights, the first fighter to start the six degrees just has to have fought for a title at some point. After that any fighter or fight goes if it connects you there. Just trying to keep the first guy from being some obscure nobody.

[jrc26]

OK never mind. I'll think of something original like a hypothetical match up thread. Ummm Tony Tucker vs. James Toney. Or a Mike Tyson thread. Do you think Tyson went both #1 and #2 before a big fight?

[SamWise72]

I like this idea. How about Henry Armstrong. Last title fight 1941, at 147, so he makes the bracket. I don't think he can be connected to Holyfield in 6 moves.

[SamWise72]

Armstrong - Robinson - Fullmer - Dick Tiger - Bob Foster - Ali - Holmes - Holyfield.

7 if you don't count Armstrong himself.

[jrc26]

Nice. I got to Fullmer and couldn't think of where to go. I'm telling you everyone ties to Holyfield.

[Bundana]

Armstrong - SRR - Wilf Greaves - Ellis - Ali - Foreman - Holyfield

[SamWise72]

Respect!

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I'm telling you everyone ties to Holyfield.

That shows how sick his resume is. Underrated fighter in a historical sense. Esaily could be top 30 all time.

[BoxBuzz]

Saad, do you think Holy juiced? If so does that compromise his record?

[dberry]

Great game, I like to play six degrees to a world champion, see if I can get to a world champion in less than six moves from any name, the thing is though, with these games, is unlike six degrees of Kevin Bacon, these games don't end with bacon.

[klompton]

Saad, do you think Holy juiced? If so does that compromise his record?

Hell yes he juiced. He was ripped and the gained twenty pounds of solid muscle while participating in an endurance sport after training with Lee Haney then shortly later developed a heart problem and lost his hair almost overnight. Lets also not forget the "Evan Fields" incident which was traced back to him that he explained away saying he was buying the roids for his uncle Im a huge Holyfield fan, and I admit I always had my suspicions, so this is hard for me to reconcile.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Saad, do you think Holy juiced? If so does that compromise his record?

Absolutely, I knew it as soon as he was working out with Lee Haney.

I don't take away from modern athletes because I'm quite sure that over half of them were on something. Kids were on steroids in my HS in the mid-80's. I find it easier to just accept it. Be it someone I love like Evander or someone I cheered against like Manny. Boxing testing is so pathetic, it's impossible to gauge who really is clean.

[Bundana]

How about this question:

Name the "oldest" (earliest) world champion, who can be linked to Holyfield in just 6 moves.

[SamWise72]

That's gonna go through Foreman, and no mistake!

[SamWise72]

Foreman - Peralta - Pastrano - Maxim - Burman - John Henry Lewis

That's the best I could do, but I suspect one can do better.

[Bundana]

John Henry Lewis became world champion in 1935 - 2 years befor Armstrong won his first title.

So John Henry is the man to beat, if we want to go back even further.