BoxRec

Let's assume Tyson beat Buster in 1990. Holyfield would be Tyson's next match.

Who do you got?

Holyfield W12 or late TKO just like in 1996. Holyfield would've always beaten Tyson. Too much heart, too good a chin.

gilgamesh wrote:Holyfield W12 or late TKO just like in 1996. Holyfield would've always beaten Tyson. Too much heart, too good a chin.

+1

Holyfield KO.

Tyson would never have beaten a prime Holyfield with his one punch at a time, standing square on & not moving his head style that he seemed to favour after 1989.

Holyfield is just the wrong kind of opponent for Tyson period.

Exceptional stamina, heart, chin, great skillset & would not have been afraid of Tyson in the slightest.

Tyson would always have struggled with Holyfield.

Holy TKO in later rounds.

Holy by decision in a better fight, he beats Tyson at any point of their lives.

Too many variables, what-if's in this scenario.

Hindsight has revealed alot. My arguements for either case:

Pre-Prison (1992) -

- A Holyfield Win: It's no secret today that Tyson's entire camp was a train wreck. Outside the ridiculous legal, domestic and personal issues that Tyson was dealing with (badly), his actual training was abysmal. Hence the departure of several key coaches. On that note, it's safe to say Holyfield would have won against this Tyson who was more concerned with picking up his paycheck than anything else.

- A Tyson Win: On the other hand, there is the argument that Tyson was keeping busy doing minimal as possible before the 'inevitable' big fight that the then 'dead heavyweight division' would finally get in Tyson-Holyfield. Tyson would actually take the fight serious since it's the only bout he was interested at that time.

In my opinion, Tyson would have beat Holyfield anytime before 1992 in a bout similar to that of Tyson-Ruddock. Full of fouls and knockdowns: But Tyson having the edge.

Post-Prison (1996) -

Well Tyson's 9 (2) - 4 record in 11 years pretty much sums up his career after leaving Jail; capitalizing on a fallen from grace Heavyweight (Especially after 1999).

observer1 wrote:Too many variables, what-if's in this scenario.

Hindsight has revealed alot. My arguements for either case:

Pre-Prison (1992) -

- A Holyfield Win: It's no secret today that Tyson's entire camp was a train wreck. Outside the ridiculous legal, domestic and personal issues that Tyson was dealing with (badly), his actual training was abysmal. Hence the departure of several key coaches. On that note, it's safe to say Holyfield would have won against this Tyson who was more concerned with picking up his paycheck than anything else.

- A Tyson Win: On the other hand, there is the argument that Tyson was keeping busy doing minimal as possible before the 'inevitable' big fight that the then 'dead heavyweight division' would finally get in Tyson-Holyfield. Tyson would actually take the fight serious since it's the only bout he was interested at that time.

In my opinion, Tyson would have beat Holyfield anytime before 1992 in a bout similar to that of Tyson-Ruddock. Full of fouls and knockdowns: But Tyson having the edge.

Post-Prison (1996) -

Well Tyson's 9 (2) - 4 record in 11 years pretty much sums up his career after leaving Jail; capitalizing on a fallen from grace Heavyweight (Especially after 1999).

This is a great post.

Holyfield always knew how to fight Tyson if anything else. Holyfield UD.

The only variable was Evander owning Mike, anytime, any place.

observer1 wrote:Too many variables, what-if's in this scenario.

Hindsight has revealed alot. My arguements for either case:

Pre-Prison (1992) -

- A Holyfield Win: It's no secret today that Tyson's entire camp was a train wreck. Outside the ridiculous legal, domestic and personal issues that Tyson was dealing with (badly), his actual training was abysmal. Hence the departure of several key coaches. On that note, it's safe to say Holyfield would have won against this Tyson who was more concerned with picking up his paycheck than anything else.

- A Tyson Win: On the other hand, there is the argument that Tyson was keeping busy doing minimal as possible before the 'inevitable' big fight that the then 'dead heavyweight division' would finally get in Tyson-Holyfield. Tyson would actually take the fight serious since it's the only bout he was interested at that time.

In my opinion, Tyson would have beat Holyfield anytime before 1992 in a bout similar to that of Tyson-Ruddock. Full of fouls and knockdowns: But Tyson having the edge.

Post-Prison (1996) -

Well Tyson's 9 (2) - 4 record in 11 years pretty much sums up his career after leaving Jail; capitalizing on a fallen from grace Heavyweight (Especially after 1999).

Some good points there, but the only thing I can't agree with is the comparison with the Tyson -v- Ruddock bouts.

Ruddock stood in front of Tyson & traded single shots for 19 rounds. Holyfield was far more skilled than Ruddock was in 1991 & he would have boxed a much better fight & that would have been key to him beating Tyson in 1990.

A prime great Evander Holyfield was a complete fighter. He could box, slug it out, had great combination punching and use his speed and had a great chin and durability. Also, he had the heart of a champion. Very difficult to get discouraged. The great Mike Tyson in the other hand, was SOMEWHAT discouraged after round 5, even in his prime in the 80s. I believe that Evander would have beaten Tyson in any time or period of Iron Mike's career, even with trainer Kevin Rooney on his side...
Holyfield was too tough mentally as well as physically. Holy by late KO in a terrific war.

Holy could handle Tyson in sparring in 84 when he was a light-heavy and Tyson was a powder keg heavy.

Holyfield vs Tyson is always mentally man vs boy, he always is too much of everything for Tyson. I wouldn't think there are many men in heavyweight history who could stand up to Tyson but Holyfield, for various reasons, is.

elmersalsa wrote:A prime great Evander Holyfield was a complete fighter. He could box, slug it out, had great combination punching and use his speed and had a great chin and durability. Also, he had the heart of a champion. Very difficult to get discouraged. The great Mike Tyson in the other hand, was SOMEWHAT discouraged after round 5, even in his prime in the 80s. I believe that Evander would have beaten Tyson in any time or period of Iron Mike's career, even with trainer Kevin Rooney on his side...
Holyfield was too tough mentally as well as physically. Holy by late KO in a terrific war.

The mental aspect cannot be stressed enough.

Holyfield was one of the most mentally strong fighters that has ever lived, whereas Tyson, for all his fearsome prowess was not mentally strong at all.

Any opponent of Holyfield's ilk would have been Mike Tyson's worst nightmare.