Heavyweights: Evander Holyfield vs. Muhammad Ali

[Djanders44]

12 Rounds. Primes. Hmmm.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Evander

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

I figure norton and frazier gave ali a lot of trouble and holyfield is better than them and quicker

[gilgamesh]

To me Holyfield represents Ali's stylistic kryptonite.

[DrDuke]

Yeah, Holy would pressure Ali no less than Smokin' Joe, but Evander also was faster, more diverse and no less tough. Holy by dec.

[Woldemar]

Holy close decision

[gilgamesh]

Yeah, Holy would pressure Ali no less than Smokin' Joe, but Evander also was faster, more diverse and no less tough. Holy by dec.

Plus aside from pressure and strength. Holyfield wasn't too shabby when it came to Boxing and Moving either He had several wrinkles to his game.

[scorpio83]

IMHO: Your opinions would be an unpopular one because you each think Holy would beat the prime Ali, but this is the prime Ali, who would never allow Holyfield to counter him. Holyfield never face an opponent from a different era who is the GOAT and he's quicker than Chris Byrd.

12 Rounds is not enough, but 15 rounds is more interesting as Holyfield has a different style from Frazier and Norton. Holyfield would pressure and give Ali problems early on, but Ali would box and move around Holyfield behind his long range flurry without stopping on his pedal stood. After out-boxing Holyfield in 15 rounds, Ali would win by decision.

[Seamus]

Mover version of Ali would be too quick and mobile for Holyfield and would take a clear decision.

[gilgamesh]

IMHO: Your opinions would be an unpopular one because you each think Holy would beat the prime Ali, but this is the prime Ali, who would never allow Holyfield to counter him. Holyfield never face an opponent from a different era who is the GOAT and he's quicker than Chris Byrd.

12 Rounds is not enough, but 15 rounds is more interesting as Holyfield has a different style from Frazier and Norton. Holyfield would pressure and give Ali problems early on, but Ali would box and move around Holyfield behind his long range flurry without stopping on his pedal stood. After out-boxing Holyfield in 15 rounds, Ali would win by decision.

Neither of them ever faced a fighter like each other. It would be a competitive bout no doubt, but Holyfield has all the tools to potentially defeat Ali. Even Prime Ali.

Would he beat every time? Highly doubtful.

Could he beat him once? Certainly.

Also I don't know why you mentioned Chris Byrd here. Holyfield was well past his prime for the Chris Byrd fight.

[scorpio83]

IMHO: Your opinions would be an unpopular one because you each think Holy would beat the prime Ali, but this is the prime Ali, who would never allow Holyfield to counter him. Holyfield never face an opponent from a different era who is the GOAT and he's quicker than Chris Byrd.

12 Rounds is not enough, but 15 rounds is more interesting as Holyfield has a different style from Frazier and Norton. Holyfield would pressure and give Ali problems early on, but Ali would box and move around Holyfield behind his long range flurry without stopping on his pedal stood. After out-boxing Holyfield in 15 rounds, Ali would win by decision.

Neither of them ever faced a fighter like each other. It would be a competitive bout no doubt, but Holyfield has all the tools to potentially defeat Ali. Even Prime Ali.

Would he beat every time? Highly doubtful.

Could he beat him once? Certainly.

Also I don't know why you mentioned Chris Byrd here. Holyfield was well past his prime for the Chris Byrd fight.

I hold Holyfield at a high regard and yes, he was past his prime when he fought Byrd and that's the example of this boxer. Michael "Dynamite" Dokes is the better example who had quick speed and the same Dokes, whom Holyfield fought him early his prime at heavyweight. However, Ali was quicker than Dokes and if they make it a mythical trilogy series, then Holyfield could take the first fight by decision and Ali would take the next 2 fights with both also by decision in a close fight.

[elmersalsa]

Ali on points.

[Nile4000]

Mover version of Ali would be too quick and mobile for Holyfield and would take a clear decision.

Concur.

[elmersalsa]

The Real Deal was much more of a complete fighter than The Greatest. But, I don't think that Evander has ever fight a guy with the speed of Ali.

[DrDuke]

The Real Deal was much more of a complete fighter than The Greatest. But, I don't think that Evander has ever fight a guy with the speed of Ali.

Ali also fought only once against the guy of about the same level of toughness, workrate and durability in prime. And he lost.

[gilgamesh]

The Real Deal was much more of a complete fighter than The Greatest. But, I don't think that Evander has ever fight a guy with the speed of Ali.

Ali also fought only once against the guy of about the same level of toughness, workrate and durability in prime. And he lost.

You're referring to Frazier, and honestly I would consider Holyfield to be a more complete fighter than Frazier.

I think Holyfield has most of the strengths that Frazier and Norton brought to the table, and then some.

He doesn't have as great of a Left Hook as Frazier, but a more complete arsenal overall, and I don't think there's really anything Norton does that Holyfield doesn't do better, and those were the 2 guys who beat the best versions of Ali who ever took a loss.

[DrDuke]

The Real Deal was much more of a complete fighter than The Greatest. But, I don't think that Evander has ever fight a guy with the speed of Ali.

Ali also fought only once against the guy of about the same level of toughness, workrate and durability in prime. And he lost.

You're referring to Frazier, and honestly I would consider Holyfield to be a more complete fighter than Frazier.

I think Holyfield has most of the strengths that Frazier and Norton brought to the table, and then some.

He doesn't have as great of a Left Hook as Frazier, but a more complete arsenal overall, and I don't think there's really anything Norton does that Holyfield doesn't do better, and those were the 2 guys who beat the best versions of Ali who ever took a loss.

Right, Holy was even better than those.

[gilgamesh]

Basically of all the possible ATG's you could match against Ali. I think Holyfield is THE WORST possible opponent for him.

As difficult a matchup as you could imagine for Ali.

Styles make fights, and Holyfield's style is gonna be a nightmare for Ali. Every time.

[Onetimeonly]

My second favorite fighter ever and I think Ali is bad news for evander. Oddly, Gil, I think evander had a tighter hook than Joe. What Norton did better than holy was take away the jab. Holyfield was probably the greatest counter puncher in heavyweight history, but chasing down the fastest heavyweight ever with a long stick in his face is far from ideal. 10-5 Ali

[gilgamesh]

I would think he'd be pushing him to the ropes, and trying to muscle him. Like Norton did. He'd know better than to try to outbox Ali surely. He'd have to draw him into a fight.

[Onetimeonly]

He would have to try, but not his preferred style. He was a bit past it, but he struggled mightily to get Lewis to engage.

[elmersalsa]

He would have to try, but not his preferred style. He was a bit past it, but he struggled mightily to get Lewis to engage.

Holy was ringworn when he fought Lennox. The fight with Vaughn Bean was the writing on the wall.

[Onetimeonly]

He would have to try, but not his preferred style. He was a bit past it, but he struggled mightily to get Lewis to engage.

Holy was ringworn when he fought Lennox. The fight with Vaughn Bean was the writing on the wall.

Ali was harder to corner, obviously. Happy new year Elmer. I hope 2021 eases your senility.

[Cojimar 1946]

Wouldn't someone with a higher workrate have a better shot at beating Ali? Evander at heavyweight didn't throw 800+ punches per fight.

[Djanders44]

My pick is Evander by split decision win.