Prime Holyfield vs Usyk

Only in your mind. Not only in my mind. Steroids can improve punch resistance, for a variety of reasons. Do a bit of research into it. Stronger muscles absorb impact force from punches more efficiently. Being able to train harder due to faster recuperation not only increases muscle strength, it increases fitness levels too. Which means more oxygen is carried in the blood, which enables the brain and the muscles to recover faster from the concussive effects of punches.

Steroids can improve punch resistance considerably. That's one of the reasons why boxers use them. And Usyk is aleady in the ATG cruiserweights discussion. Otherwise this thread wouldn't exist. Only in your mind. This thread exists because of people's rush to judgement. History will be the judge of Usyk. This very forum had people proclaiming that Adrien Broner was an ATG just a few years ago. Most everyone had Tyson as an ATG in 1988 but he doesn't make the top 10 HWs in quite a few lists today. So I'm not going to slobber all over a guy who has had just 16 professional fights. I think Usyk is a very talented fighter and a candidate for an ATG list - but he's not there yet.

Holyfield wins by close decision in a legendary fight for the ages and likely Fight of the year contender! I see lots of close swing rounds with Usyk’s activity and marksmanship and Holyfield’s pressure and body punches plus volume! I think Holyfield’s heart and pressure will be the X factors here!

Holyfield with 90s PED testing, Usyk with modern testing

I don't know how a non-steroid Holyfield would do but I think I'd still give him the edge over Usyk. Steroids may improve power but they don't improve three things that Holyfield had in spades. 1. Heart. Holyfield is the guy you have to kill in the ring to beat him because you wobble him and he comes right back at you. That demoralizes a lot of guys. 2. A chin. Holyfield was in the ring with some real bombers. Bowe (in his prime), Foreman, Tyson, Lewis, Bert Cooper are all really great punchers. The only two guys to put him out were Bowe (when he had that suspected heart problem) and Toney (when he was washed up). If those HWs couldn't put Holyfield down, how does a guy like Usyk react when he catches Holyfield flush and he doesn't drop? 3. Courage. Again, not afraid to take on the biggest punchers and stay right there in with them. We're talking about a guy who is #1 on most lists of the best Cruiserweights of all time and KO'd the guy who is #2 on most of those lists - Carlos De Leon. Usyk may be in that discussion eventually but not today. Steroids can improve punch resistance considerably. That's one of the reasons why boxers use them. And Usyk is aleady in the ATG cruiserweights discussion. Otherwise this thread wouldn't exist.

the poll says otherwise...... The poll doesn't say anything about Usyk not being bigger at CW than Holyfield and Quawi were.

With VADA I might go with Usyk...without, I'd probably favor Holyfield. I don't know how a non-steroid Holyfield would do but I think I'd still give him the edge over Usyk. Steroids may improve power but they don't improve three things that Holyfield had in spades. 1. Heart. Holyfield is the guy you have to kill in the ring to beat him because you wobble him and he comes right back at you. That demoralizes a lot of guys. 2. A chin. Holyfield was in the ring with some real bombers. Bowe (in his prime), Foreman, Tyson, Lewis, Bert Cooper are all really great punchers. The only two guys to put him out were Bowe (when he had that suspected heart problem) and Toney (when he was washed up). If those HWs couldn't put Holyfield down, how does a guy like Usyk react when he catches Holyfield flush and he doesn't drop? 3. Courage. Again, not afraid to take on the biggest punchers and stay right there in with them. We're talking about a guy who is #1 on most lists of the best Cruiserweights of all time and KO'd the guy who is #2 on most of those lists - Carlos De Leon. Usyk may be in that discussion eventually but not today.

Something you need to bear in mind - Holyfield and Quawi where fighting at 190, not 200, and after a fight day weigh in. Usyk is much bigger at CW than they were, probably around 20lb bigger. the poll says otherwise......

With VADA I might go with Usyk...without, I'd probably favor Holyfield.

Not a chance! Holy would smoke usyk and get rid of him in 10 Something you need to bear in mind - Holyfield and Quawi where fighting at 190, not 200, and after a fight day weigh in. Usyk is much bigger at CW than they were, probably around 20lb bigger.

I watched those fights on YT quite recently. Usyk is better than both of them. Seriously. Not a chance! Holy would smoke usyk and get rid of him in 10

It would be a good fight but Holyfield at cruiserweight was an animal. Too strong, too powerful and too tough for Usyk.

Evander would RAW dog Usyk.

Holyfield juiced himself to the gills and was able to beat slow, lumbering HWs, including a completely shot Mike Tyson, after he moved up. But Usyk is naturally bigger, fitter, faster, and would be too slick and tricky for Holyfield. Usyk by UD. Mike Tyson was not shot when Evander Holyfield beat him, just kind of not technically on point. I have always felt that Mike Tyson was more offended by his loss to Holyfield than Buster Douglas. Usyk is overrated, not technically and physically. He will be brutally knocked out by any of the big 3-4 heavyweights even Tyson Fury will knock him out.

What about his fights with Qawi? COme on man, you can't be serious...... I watched those fights on YT quite recently. Usyk is better than both of them. Seriously.

Holyfield juiced himself to the gills and was able to beat slow, lumbering HWs, including a completely shot Mike Tyson, after he moved up. But Usyk is naturally bigger, fitter, faster, and would be too slick and tricky for Holyfield. Usyk by UD. What about his fights with Qawi? COme on man, you can't be serious......

Holyfield was a proven PED user, so I pretty much disqualify him from fantasy matchups. He beefed up so enormously, and kept his speed and sharpness, it was absurd. I don’t have any idea what the real fighter was like, in his human form, without an incredible doping program making him into a robot. He belongs with Lance Armstrong, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. That’s his era, his world. A phony.

In the first fight, Holyfield enters as a massive betting favorite and earns a hard-fought victory by unanimous decision. This impresses Emmanuel Steward, who takes Wilder under his wing and trains him as he works his way back up the rankings. In the much-anticipated rematch, The Bronze Bomber stuns the smaller man early in the 7th, then follows with a barrage that leaves him defenseless against the ropes. The referee waves it off with twenty-one seconds left on the clock as a stunned Don King and Dan Duva watch from ringside. https://www.costume-shop.com/images/products/t0131.jpg

Holyfield juiced himself to the gills and was able to beat slow, lumbering HWs, including a completely shot Mike Tyson, after he moved up. But Usyk is naturally bigger, fitter, faster, and would be too slick and tricky for Holyfield. Usyk by UD.

In the first fight, Holyfield enters as a massive betting favorite and earns a hard-fought victory by unanimous decision. This impresses Emmanuel Steward, who takes Wilder under his wing and trains him as he works his way back up the rankings. In the much-anticipated rematch, The Bronze Bomber stuns the smaller man early in the 7th, then follows with a barrage that leaves him defenseless against the ropes. The referee waves it off with twenty-one seconds left on the clock as a stunned Don King and Dan Duva watch from ringside. Fairness, humbleness well said champ, i'm impressed