BoxRec

Ok guys lets assume that for some mystical reason, Holyfield and the Douglas that upset Tyson met in 1990. The same events that 'inspired' Douglas to train hard and dig deep are still surrounding him. The blown up cruiserweight Holyfield is in his fit and fighting best.

Would it be a repeat when these two did meet in 1991 ?

Or...

Do you think that Douglas who was in very good shape, focused, motivated would be able to do enough to upset an always in shape,
always focused Holyfield.


How do you think it plays out guys..


Kym

I MAY POSSIBLY BE WRONG,BUT THE DOUGLAS THAT BEAT TYSON WAS AWESOME.I GIVE HIM MORE THAN A GOOD CHANCE AT BEATING
DAMNED NEAR ANYONE THAT NIGHT.
HE HAD NOTHING TO LOSE AND EVERYTHING TO GAIN.A DANGEROUS COMBINATION.

The problem with this match up is that no matter how "inspired" Douglas is, he would be facing a more intelligent fighter than himself. He loses in a very good scrap, but nevertheless Holyfield would have his number just like he had Mike's.

It would be a better fight that either of the Tyson fights...minus the "eerie" moments.

I suspect most will take Holyfield here but I honestly can't see a clear winner. Holyfield isn't going to get discouraged & drop his punch count to zero ala Tyson simply on the back of Douglas performing. Holyfield is smarter, more patient & has a dependably solid cocktail of talent, skill & heart on which to rely. You can bet he'd have an infinitely superior corner team to boot.

That said, I actually just watched this fight on my way home from work last night & Douglas was nothing short of superb. The precision & proliferation of his jab alone is enough to screw with Holyfield's timing. Now add a 230lb frame who never stopped throwing punches all night & continued to deliver angles to a Tyson who at least had the power to score a knockout at any time, a luxury Holyfield didn't have.

Close fight & I have a hard time picking one guy here. So different to their actual fight it's hard to believe both took place within the same decade, let alone within the same year.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:I suspect most will take Holyfield here but I honestly can't see a clear winner. Holyfield isn't going to get discouraged & drop his punch count to zero ala Tyson simply on the back of Douglas performing. Holyfield is smarter, more patient & has a dependably solid cocktail of talent, skill & heart on which to rely. You can bet he'd have an infinitely superior corner team to boot.

That said, I actually just watched this fight on my way home from work last night & Douglas was nothing short of superb. The precision & proliferation of his jab alone is enough to screw with Holyfield's timing. Now add a 230lb frame who never stopped throwing punches all night & continued to deliver angles to a Tyson who at least had the power to score a knockout at any time, a luxury Holyfield didn't have.

Close fight & I have a hard time picking one guy here. So different to their actual fight it's hard to believe both took place within the same decade, let alone within the same year.

I don't think Buster could use the same approach which was custom made for Tyson. Wouldnt' have the same effect against Evander.

I don't think Douglas' style was as inflexible as you are suggesting. Riddick Bowe showed that a stiff left jab, applied evenly & in suitable volume, could shake up Holyfield's timing & tame his own jab, at that time an important weapon for Holyfield off which the uppercut (which nearly tore a very game Bert Cooper's head off) was delivered.

Of course, Douglas lacked the punch to hurt Holyfield the way Bowe did, but then again Bowe didn't seem as crisp or as fast at getting off as Douglas did against Tyson.

Keeping the jab count high, presenting an ever-increasing range of angles & holding effectively at close-quarters worked better against Tyson, yes, but I have no doubt it would seriously test Holyfield's rhythm.

Still feel this is a close call.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:I don't think Douglas' style was as inflexible as you are suggesting. Riddick Bowe showed that a stiff left jab, applied evenly & in suitable volume, could shake up Holyfield's timing & tame his own jab, at that time an important weapon for Holyfield off which the uppercut (which nearly tore a very game Bert Cooper's head off) was delivered.

Of course, Douglas lacked the punch to hurt Holyfield the way Bowe did, but then again Bowe didn't seem as crisp or as fast at getting off as Douglas did against Tyson.

Keeping the jab count high, presenting an ever-increasing range of angles & holding effectively at close-quarters worked better against Tyson, yes, but I have no doubt it would seriously test Holyfield's rhythm.

Still feel this is a close call.

Bowe beat Holyfield with his suprising inside game and uppercuts, not by sticking and moving.

Holyfield is not a short pressure fighter who will keep just walking into Buster's combinations like Tyson did. Holyfield had the faster hands and would counter Buster's jab with his own double-jab.

Holyfield TKO 8.

I have that fight on video. Tyson's corner forgot to bring an ice pack and his eye swelled up. Take nothing away from Douglas but as great as he was that night I think Tyson would have won with clear vision. His corner blew it. Mind you a heavyweight champion has no business having a corner of such low caliber.

Klee Gluckman wrote:I have that fight on video. Tyson's corner forgot to bring an ice pack and his eye swelled up. Take nothing away from Douglas but as great as he was that night I think Tyson would have won with clear vision. His corner blew it. Mind you a heavyweight champion has no business having a corner of such low caliber.

Except for the fact that he was getting his ass kicked prior to his eye swelling up. Perhaps all those shots that Douglas landed might have actually caused some of that swelling?

Klee Gluckman wrote:I have that fight on video. Tyson's corner forgot to bring an ice pack and his eye swelled up. Take nothing away from Douglas but as great as he was that night I think Tyson would have won with clear vision. His corner blew it. Mind you a heavyweight champion has no business having a corner of such low caliber.

An ice pack would not have prevented Tyson's face from becoming Quasimodo-ish.

Holyfield wins this mythical fight.

Just like 20+ other heavyweights over the course of history would have beaten Buster Douglas that night.

I like Douglas and in many way he like many 80s HW frustrates me...in the sense that they had such an interesting style, un-deniable talent, but were so damned in-consistent.

I like to watch Douglas vs Tucker and Berbick as you get to see his smooth rolling jab. However the style of Douglas in Tokyo was perfect against an im-prefect Tyson, how he would have fared against a 'peak' Tyson is anyones guess. He was the perfect fighter for that night no matter what however.

Against Holyfield I think we see an exciting decision, Holyfield just doesnt have the power to put away Douglas, but he does have the punch rate, speed and determination to impose a decision on a much more stubborn and alot fitter Douglas than the man he faced for the title, who just seemed happy to eat away his money before he even won it.

I am a Douglas fan for some reason, lopve his style and feel sorry for what he became. I just see a cool fight between the two that Holy wins.

I do however think that 'THAT' Douglas beats alot of other top guys from other era's.


Kym

The Problem with this thread is that the Douglas that beat Tyson, albeit one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, got lucky is all. Douglas came in against a slowly fading Tyson who stopped using head movement and the double jab quite a few fights before Douglas. If you don't believe me watch all his fights, you'll see. On top of that Tyson got in with Don King and wasn't training properly and was even partying while he was in Japan before the fight. Douglas had his chance and took advantage of it and much props to him but he ultimately proved his one hit wonder status, took his 15 minutes of fame and faded into "bolivian" lol. Tyson as bad as he was in that fight still won rounds and even managed to knock Douglas down in the 8th. Holyfield destroys "the Tokyo Douglas" no matter what.