BoxRec

15 rounds.

Holyfield TKO 11.

Great fight, but Commander Vander was simply a higher caliber fighter than Lyle. No disrespect to Lyle, though, as he would have been a top contender in any era of heavyweight history.

My guess is that it goes the distance, with Holyfield winning by margins of (maybe) 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5. It would be competitive enough that different judges could see the spread differently. But Holyfield gets the UD.

Another possibility, although less likely, is that Holyfield scores a later round stoppage over Ron. Vander could really bang, and I remember sometimes Lyle seemed winded in the later rounds of some of his fights.

One final thought: don't discount the possibility that, in the early and mid rounds, Lyle might hurt and floor Holyfield. Ron had Grade A punching power, and could coldcock anyone. But even if Holyfield gets knocked down, he get up and win.

Holyfield by stoppage late for me.

The great Evander Holyfield wins in a slugfest a la Dwight Muhammad Qawi fight.

Ron Lyle will wilt in the later rounds.

Lyle by upset split decision. He had more than enough to hang with Evander, and it is 15. But it will be close.

I'd take Holyfield by a decision. I don't think it's out of the question we could be looking at a split decision here. I can easily see Lyle rocking Holyfield and possibly knocking him down over the course of a 15 round fight, but I also see Holyfield's superior skill winning him the majority of the rounds.

The slugfest rounds could go either way. The more measured, breather rounds are probably always gonna favor Holyfield.