Who was better?Tyson or Holyfield?

[Southpaw16]

Buster Douglas

OK, I'm still hearing a lot of this "Tyson wasn't in his prime" stuff. I have revealed my reason in earlier posts why I think that is rubbish. But for those of you who insist on keeping with the argument that the late 80s Tyson was different and would have beaten Holyfield: explain why he got whipped by Buster Douglas in 1990. No great heavyweight has ever been beaten by someone like Buster Douglas in their prime. Don't say Leon Spinks versus Ali, because Ali was 36 and nowhere near his prime. Lennox Lewis's losses were lucky one punch knockouts which he emphatically avenged. Tyson got outclassed and beaten down for several rounds before being knocked out. This is usually where Tyson fans start claiming it was because he fired his coach.

[kapersky]

OK, I'm still hearing a lot of this "Tyson wasn't in his prime" stuff. I have revealed my reason in earlier posts why I think that is rubbish. But for those of you who insist on keeping with the argument that the late 80s Tyson was different and would have beaten Holyfield: explain why he got whipped by Buster Douglas in 1990. No great heavyweight has ever been beaten by someone like Buster Douglas in their prime. Don't say Leon Spinks versus Ali, because Ali was 36 and nowhere near his prime. Lennox Lewis's losses were lucky one punch knockouts which he emphatically avenged. Tyson got outclassed and beaten down for several rounds before being knocked out. This is usually where Tyson fans start claiming it was because he fired his coach.

so you mean it wasent because of it?, watch documentary fallen warrior, mike tyson. i think kevin rooney know more about tyson than all of us togheter. i dont like tyson more than holyfield but its true than from the day he fired rooney he hasent trained like he should.

[Imira]

If Tyson doesn't train properly it's his own damn fault.

Here's the reality check: Holyfield outshines Tyson by leaps and bounds. Better quality of opposition. Never paid step aside money to tougher opponents. Never dropped belts to avoid tougher opponents. More heart and far more skill. (I find it intriguing that even though he beat Tyson twice, while Tyson was in his prime, his fans refuse to believe this) And he has accomplished more than Tyson. Tyson only has one thing over Holyfield and that's punching power.

[Southpaw16]

I am definitely saying that his loss to Buster Douglas was not because he fired Rooney. No boxer in history has every been able to use firing his coach as an excuse for losing. With a boxer like Tyson, this claim is even more invalid because his gameplan was the same every time, cut the ring off and knock the guy out.

[paulmmv]

i would hafe to say holyfield

[kapersky]

he was on heavy medication before douglas fight. all his anger, movement was gone. if he didnt had that anger fighting instict and movement vs smith,green or tony tucker he would got knock out. all those three only landed 1 good punch on tyson and almost stagger him. give any top fighter wrong medication he would fall like tyson
and his mentally was kind of fu* even when cust was around. whatever it was tyson had all skilled needed to be undefeat but he f* it up.

[The Troll]

Holyfield beat Tyson soundly and definitively, and in a dismantling fashion, and that is all there is to it.

If mike had a solid head on his shoulders and was not psycho than he might had the potential to be better than Holyfield and win the Holyfield vs Tyson rematch but he doesn't. Mike Tyson is a nutcase, Evander Holyfield fights his best against the best opponents and is very strong in mind.

[Shaolin Bushido]

Holy beat him soundly, yes, but I know that most "fans" regard Tyson much higher on lists of heavyweight rankings. (All time)

[Truth]

Holyfield caught the post prison version of Mike Tyson who didn't use head movement or reflexes. The 1990's version of Tyson was easy for a great boxer like Holyfield. Keep in mind though that Holyfield headbutted Mike in both fights and clinched alot. Thats illeagal, but it doesn't matter now. Holyfield was better but Tyson made a bigger impact of the sport.

[The Troll]

Holyfield caught the post prison version of Mike Tyson who didn't use head movement or reflexes. The 1990's version of Tyson was easy for a great boxer like Holyfield. Keep in mind though that Holyfield headbutted Mike in both fights and clinched alot. Thats illeagal, but it doesn't matter now. Holyfield was better but Tyson made a bigger impact of the sport.

Mike Tyson was just as good as ever when he came out of prison. He knocked out Frank Bruno who was WBC champion at the time even way earlier than he did the first time before prison, plus he Took Seldon the WBA champion down in 1 round. He took Buster Mathis Jr down in like 3 rounds. He took #7 contender Peter McNeely down in 1. He looked like the old Mike Tyson until he ran into Holyfield. In all Mike's fights after prison he weighed in at below 220 pounds. When he fought Holyfield he came in at 222, he did not train his best. Everytime Tyson looses he weighs in at over 220 pounds. When he fought Douglas was one of the first times I ever saw him weigh in at over 220. His optimal weight 216 217 218. You would not think that small amount of pounds would make a big difference for a heavyweight but its just a freak fact that in all Tyson's losses he weighs in at over 220.

At the time Tyson and Holyfield fought it was generally thought that Mike Tyson was as good as ever by the boxing press and public since Tyson was a 7-1 money favorite over Holyfield.