Who would have won if Tyson fought Holyfield in 1991

[solidman]

Holyfield clearly did not like Tyson. He saw him as a bully.

[BKM-]

Btw here's Tyson's delusional take on this 1991 matchup:
https://talksport.com/boxing/1137321...-2-bite-fight/
In his autobiography, Undisputed Truth, Tyson states: “If I fought him [Holyfield] in 1991 when I was supposed to fight him originally, I would have knocked him out. He knows that, everybody in his camp knows that. The best thing that ever happened to him was that I went to prison. That’s when I lost all my timing.”

Yeah no, You raping a beauty pageant is the best thing that ever happened to Evander. What a lunatic. His fans claim that he has accepted and gotten over his losses but he really hasn't, sometimes it slips out like here or when he claims he got robbed in the Douglas loss.

[Mr Mitts]

Not trying to hijack the thread but I agree with Bill '91 is too easy.

If they fought at their respective bests it would be a real barn burner. There is no give in Holyfield, he proved it many times; there is give in Tyson, he proved that. Holyfield was too much man and too good a student. It was hard to guess he would come out to push Mike around like Fury pushed Wilder. Yes, that was great coaching. Good coaching only works with good students. Good students are disciplined and listen. That ability to follow a real strategy is an intangible too. Holyfield had every intangible that counts in boxing. Mike was short on intangibles and very long on quick destruction. Quick destruction was his forte.

But good students don't go to prison, it is against the rules. Holyfield had a powerful foundation, Tyson did not have one. If he had one at all it was Kevin Rooney and company whom he fired.

Tyson's punch was very strong. The rapid combinations were his deadliest weapons. He was really great at it in his time. If he does not get Holy within 4 rounds, the fight turns, if it hasn't already. I see Holy gutting it out and probably kayoing Mike.

Holy very emphatically said that George punched harder than Tyson or Tua. He said the thing about their power was that it came with a lot of speed, but George was definitely harder.

[QueensburyRules]

Maybe Tyson was overrated. He didn't stay at the top very long.

- - He went from being the wealthiest fighter in hvy history to being broke and in debt after King looted his $50 mil Insurance Retirement fund.

Yet he was still the most magnetic fighter of his period because he was such a slow motion Train Wreck for the public to witness.

[Willie Pep 229]

- - He went from being the wealthiest fighter in hvy history to being broke and in debt after King looted his $50 mil Insurance Retirement fund.

Yet he was still the most magnetic fighter of his period because he was such a slow motion Train Wreck for the public to witness.

Yeah, that's all true, yet there was something magical about him with the fans.

Think of the film The Hangover. After Tyson punches out one of the characters, his best friends' reactions are: "How cool is that, you got punched out hy Mike Tyson."

There are only a few fighters who have held that kind of mystique with the fans.

Maybe the Great John L, Dempsey and possibly Louis. Just about any other fighter would find himself in one hell of a lawsuit.

But any guy knocked out by Mike Tyson would probably be able to trade that story for free drinks the rest of his life.

Few fighters have caught the nation's imagination the way Tyson did.

Forget resume, money, or expert analysis, somehow Tyson was special.

[Marchegiano]

I've never seen that fight as a weak Tyson showing but rather a career highlight of Douglas.

Tyson, in 91, beats Holyfield and Lewis on paper and the only reason anyone says differently now is because we watched him get Douggied.


They were all amateurs together. They have stories about seeing one another and knowing they'd be problems later. It is not shameful to admit Holy stayed lower until he thought he could take on Tyson and Lewis stayed ams until he thought he could take on Tyson.

I'm going to press it even more and say neither Holyfield nor Lewis actually put on a more impressive performances than Tokyo Douglas or fought a more ferocious Mike Tyson.

Everyone knows and knew Mike Tyson's style was not for longevity. Of the men who beat him Douglas was the only one who did not plan on waiting for him to slow down. It's a reach excuse to rationalize an upset that didn't happen from luck or careful planning.




I absolutely refuse to give Holy or Len what is only James's honor

[QueensburyRules]

Maybe Tyson was overrated. He didn't stay at the top very long.

- - Top 10 for most all his career. Youngest top Ring 10 ever and 1st ever #1 Ring p4p.

And U???

[Anomalocaris]

The most overrated fighter in history by casuals and fanboys.

On Youtube I have seen people seriously believe he would KO Ali in one round.

FFS.

[QueensburyRules]

There is some truth to that. One has to look at his losses carefully as his wins... Still think he did a great job but I also do feel he looked quite spent later down the road at heavy.

- - George was slowing down after a long career seldom seen in the modern hvy careers.

Vs Field he was on top of his game with decent speed of hand and feet and had Field hanging on for dear life in the championship rounds.