Holyfield vs Ali

[drumzz]

Prime Ali Vs Holyfield? The 2 hwts that have fought the toughest competition of anyone. Prime Evander,and against a Prime Clay?Ali? Who wins and why?
My opinion tells me if they fought 10 times, it's 6 to 4 either way, but I would not be surprised if it goes 5 to 5, because of both mens skills and ability to absorb an incredible amount of punishment and throw so many amazing combinations. Perhaps these two would wind up in the greatest fights of all time?

[DrDuke]

Holyfield would win. He was all wrong for Ali. Holyfield was about as relentless and durable as Frazier, but also Holy was more versatile and technically advanced. Holy had a left hook, Holy could counter well, he would make it an action-packed brawl. Ali would take even more than against Smokin' Joe and he would be in a helluva fight since the start. If they fought 10 times, Evander would edge with a score of 5-3-2.

[drumzz]

Extremely intelligent post.Thx

[gilgamesh]

Holyfield would win. He was all wrong for Ali. Holyfield was about as relentless and durable as Frazier, but also Holy was more versatile and technically advanced. Holy had a left hook, Holy could counter well, he would make it an action-packed brawl. Ali would take even more than against Smokin' Joe and he would be in a helluva fight since the start. If they fought 10 times, Evander would edge with a score of 5-3-2.

I agree. All the problems Ken Norton represented for Ali, Holyfield would have all of those same assets, and then some.

He was even quicker, and more versatile as a boxer than Norton, but would've certainly had the strength to push Ali around if need be as well.

It's hard to imagine he couldn't make Ali fight his fight some sorta way, and even could hold his own fighting Ali's fight.

Holyfield above all others always stand out to me as a fighter with a perfect combination of skills that would likely represent Ali's kryptonite.

[f read]

Holyfield may have been Alis most difficult opponent style wise. This is an interesting contest. Yes the Holyfield dexterity i am sure would have troubled Ali. The question is could Holyfield handle Alis pre fight antics mentally? Ali would have to be at his brilliant best to pull a victory off in this one.

[gilgamesh]

Holyfield may have been Alis most difficult opponent style wise. This is an interesting contest. Yes the Holyfield dexterity i am sure would have troubled Ali. The question is could Holyfield handle Alis pre fight antics mentally? Ali would have to be at his brilliant best to pull a victory off in this one.

That's yet another thing. Holyfield seems like the type of guy who would be that much tougher if you tried to f*ck with him in all the pre-fight pressers. I think it would just light a fire under his ass that much more.

[elmersalsa]

Ali by split decision.

[scorpio83]

Holyfield's style was not awkward as Ken Norton while Muhammad Ali's style wasn't the same style as Mike Tyson.

If they fought in their prime, both fighters who box in a chess match with jabs and combinations. However, prime Ali would get the better of the Real Deal and take a close split decision. Ali WSD 15

[Onetimeonly]

Holy is probably the best heavyweight counter puncher ever. His most vulnerable is a moving jabber, I don't like this for evander at all. Ali would respect him and stay away. Wide Dec for Ali with some exciting holy moments. He'd fair better with Louis.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Holyfield. I cant add anything everyone else hit on.. tough style for ali

[Bodyshot3]

I am going for Holyfield but by a much-debated MD.......resulting in a rematch demand and triology to savour.

The energy EH brings is a problem for Ali - Evander is always firing, always working - and physically he is robust enough to shake off the jabs and strong enough to shove and bully Ali into some corners and unload to settle some key rounds.

Holyfield is not getting everything his own way; I can see rounds when he works with no success whatsoever and the Ali footwork and jab is working sweetly. He looses sessions - and quite badly - before imposing his will.

But ultimately Holy has the determination, speed to actually get at Ali without being pinned on the end of a jab and uses that furious work-rate to win a wafer-thin decision.

The better, eye-catching punches actually come from Ali (hence a MD) but there's not quite enough of them because Holyfield is remorselssly moving ahead and landing more shots.

[AntonioMartin]

Ali way too everything for Holyfield.

[Tevfik1907]

Prime 64-67 Ali would easily outscore him, win by huge UD, could be even a late TKO.

Post-Prime 74-77 Ali can win as well, although in a close fight.

The only version I can see Holyfield is winning against Ali if Ali fights him right after returning to the rings after 3 years gap while he was still recovering, which was in between 1970-72, that's where Frazier beat him in a very close fight.

[DrDuke]

Prime 64-67 Ali would easily outscore him, win by huge UD, could be even a late TKO.

Post-Prime 74-77 Ali can win as well, although in a close fight.

The only version I can see Holyfield is winning against Ali if Ali fights him right after returning to the rings after 3 years gap while he was still recovering, which was in between 1970-72, that's where Frazier beat him in a very close fight.

It wasn't very close.

[Tevfik1907]

Prime 64-67 Ali would easily outscore him, win by huge UD, could be even a late TKO.

Post-Prime 74-77 Ali can win as well, although in a close fight.

The only version I can see Holyfield is winning against Ali if Ali fights him right after returning to the rings after 3 years gap while he was still recovering, which was in between 1970-72, that's where Frazier beat him in a very close fight.

It wasn't very close.

Frazier was hospitalized for weeks and he couldn't fight again earlier than Ali, (he fought 9 months later while Ali fought 4 months later) Ali definitely hurt him a lot in that fight, and Ali could win if not for that last 15. round knockdown.

[DrDuke]

Prime 64-67 Ali would easily outscore him, win by huge UD, could be even a late TKO.

Post-Prime 74-77 Ali can win as well, although in a close fight.

The only version I can see Holyfield is winning against Ali if Ali fights him right after returning to the rings after 3 years gap while he was still recovering, which was in between 1970-72, that's where Frazier beat him in a very close fight.

It wasn't very close.

Frazier was hospitalized for weeks and he couldn't fight again earlier than Ali, (he fought 9 months later while Ali fought 4 months later) Ali definitely hurt him a lot in that fight, and Ali could win if not for that last 15. round knockdown.

Oh, my... Do we judge fights by who was hospitalized? Ali did hurt him, so what? Does that automatically give him a win? He was hurt too and he lost that fight clearly. Ali would lose even with winning the last round, Frazier was far enough ahead on the scorecards.

[AntonioMartin]

It wasn't very close.

Frazier was hospitalized for weeks and he couldn't fight again earlier than Ali, (he fought 9 months later while Ali fought 4 months later) Ali definitely hurt him a lot in that fight, and Ali could win if not for that last 15. round knockdown.

Oh, my... Do we judge fights by who was hospitalized? Ali did hurt him, so what? Does that automatically give him a win? He was hurt too and he lost that fight clearly. Ali would lose even with winning the last round, Frazier was far enough ahead on the scorecards.

Yeah...I find it funny when I read the knockdown "decided" the fight!

[Tevfik1907]

It wasn't very close.

Frazier was hospitalized for weeks and he couldn't fight again earlier than Ali, (he fought 9 months later while Ali fought 4 months later) Ali definitely hurt him a lot in that fight, and Ali could win if not for that last 15. round knockdown.

Oh, my... Do we judge fights by who was hospitalized? Ali did hurt him, so what? Does that automatically give him a win? He was hurt too and he lost that fight clearly. Ali would lose even with winning the last round, Frazier was far enough ahead on the scorecards.

The point is, Frazier was more hurt than Ali was. It didn't look like in the fight, Frazier was good at not showing us to the viewers.

As for the judges, they had 7–7 until the last round, yes, that knockdown decided the winner.

In my opinion Ali won first 5 rounds, and 9. and 10. rounds, 12. and 14. were close.

[DrDuke]

The point is, Frazier was more hurt than Ali was. It didn't look like in the fight

This is just ridiculous. Frazier was landing the biggest shots all the fight.

As for the judges, they had 7–7 until the last round, yes, that knockdown decided the winner.

They didn't. They had Frazier 8-6-1, 9-6, 11-4.

[Scypion]

I would take a prime Ali over Holyfield. I believe that Ali was still good enough to beat Evander in the early 70's despite the layoff.

I have a lot of respect for Holyfield, but Ali was amazing.

[Ambling Alp II]

Ali was the greatest heavyweight of all time.

How do you beat someone better than you? Your best chance is to be versatile. This what would help Holyfield over just about anyone else. He could mix up boxing and slugging. He had great hand speed and was accurate.
He probably would be able to land more on a prime Ali than anyone else.

However, Holyfield's defense was not nearly good enough. Ali would hit him almost at will. With his speed, accuracy, (both better than Holyfield) and combination punching would more than enough. He either stops Holyfield in the later rounds or wins a convincing decision.