Holyfield the Dirtiest Fighter with one ear??

[Mugwump]

I should add that I only just realised the insanity of defending the record and honour of a fighter whose reputation was largely the result of fighting dirty against an opponent who BIT OFF HIS EAR!

[beez721]

Holyfield, admittedly, has fought dirty in some of his fights.

But I don't think I'd label him a dirty fighter. To be such I really do think you have to have done some pretty bad things and fought dirty consistently throughout your entire career.

I'm not sure Holyfield's mistakes sufficiently outweigh his overall record.

And let's be honest here - this is boxing, not ballet. I mean, sure, Holyfield was fortunate to benefit from some pretty lenient refereeing by Mills Lane against Tyson.

But I think we have to look at the fight from Holyfield's perspective.

Here he is - a fighter who some scribes still believe is nothing more than a blown-up Cruiser who has no business fighting in the heavies. As for titles - forget it! If that wasn't causing one or two pangs of fear it's time to bet the house against a fighter who, despite not at his best, still strikes mortal terror into TRAINED FIGHTING MEN - some natural heavies (see Spinks, Bruno x 2 etc.).

Holyfield had coconuts for stones just appearing at the weigh in. It's easy to judge retrospectively but I remember several respected pundits fearing for Holyfield's health.

And yet who knew the guy wasn't just going to have the courage to take Tyson on - but actually set out to BUST TYSON UP. Forget comic books - this is superhero stuff! Break out the Medal of Honour!

And if he broke some rules - so? If my little brother beat me in a fight because he cheated I'd be too EMBARRASSED to cry about it. Yes, Holyfield fought rough. But it's not as though Tyson refused to use elbows because he was too much of a sportsman. Tyson fought plenty dirty. And often.

Holy showed a bully what it's like to be bullied. And considering the extreme risk he was taking any negatives must be viewed in such context.

holyfield fought rough but not dirty. I don't think his headbutting was intentional. he just tended to fight with his head low during the end of his career when his skills eroded. frank Bruno on the other hand did fight dirty late in his career. he blatantly would hit behind the head repeatedly. surprised he never got more heat for that. his kayo of jesse ferguson was a disgusting infraction of the rules and he should have been dq'd for it. Tyson also fought very dirty late in his career when his skills and stamina eroded

[The Old LefHook]

Not the dirtiest ever, but definitely dirty. His dirty game was too one dimensional for the overall title. He was mostly a headbutt king.

Now if you had said dirtiest heavyweight champ, then you could have a decent debate.

I will count continued flagrant unmindfulness of the damage a stove-sized head can do to an opponent as dirty, thanks, even a conscious strategy and a concession of values. I am not forgetting headbutts are how Benn killed McClellan, but any may do so who wish to.

Tyson's dirty game was much more versatile and rounded, though no man ever lost his life from a broken arm in the ring or a bitten ear. Would you rather risk the nub of your ear being bitten off, or the twin head Holyfield gave Rahman, if shown a picture beforehand of what you would look like tomorrow? Easy choice, right?

Throw the Christian facade right out the window. Assume he was no more honorable in the ring than in his marriages. We mistake increbile bravery for honor sometimes because they share a small area we are focusing on.

Great fighter. A bit on the dirty side in a most dangerous way.

[billeau2]

Not the dirtiest ever, but definitely dirty. His dirty game was too one dimensional for the overall title. He was mostly a headbutt king.

Now if you had said dirtiest heavyweight champ, then you could have a decent debate.

I will count continued flagrant unmindfulness of the damage a stove-sized head can do to an opponent as dirty, thanks, even a conscious strategy and a concession of values. I am not forgetting headbutts are how Benn killed McClellan, but any may do so who wish to.

Tyson's dirty game was much more versatile and rounded, though no man ever lost his life from a broken arm in the ring or a bitten ear. Would you rather risk the nub of your ear being bitten off, or the twin head Holyfield gave Rahman, if shown a picture beforehand of what you would look like tomorrow? Easy choice, right?

Throw the Christian facade right out the window. Assume he was no more honorable in the ring than in his marriages. We mistake increbile bravery for honor sometimes because they share a small area we are focusing on.

Great fighter. A bit on the dirty side in a most dangerous way.

After the bastard maker got through with Rahman he blacked out and was convinced he was six heads lewis! He started arguing with his other head because he thought it owed him money from when he was a Baltimore enforcer!

And the bastard maker was going to go on television on one of those cable shows where "expug Evander Holyfield goes across the country pointing out some of the best juke joints and fruit shops as he stops along the way to reconnect with the many fruits of his loins, both known and suprise!" in this episode a roadside stand in sante fe where the bastard maker learns where an extra 4k a month goes, pears and one step closer to being at least a first cousin to most of Georgia.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

He got dirtier and rougher as he got older... As the physical tools started to diminish, holyfield like hopkins was smart enough to adapt those tactics

[Mugwump]

I am not forgetting headbutts are how Benn killed McClellan, but any may do so who wish to.

fx: Surreal Mental Image of Nigel Benn HEADBUTTING Gerald McClellan TO DEATH like a WOODPECKER

Brrrrrrr...........Brrrrr..............Brrrrr..... .....

[Mintcar923]

I would not exactly call Evander a dirty fighter, and far from the dirtiest fighter ever.

I have seen all of Evander's fights and many live and I am of the opinion that the fouls are not intentional such as his head, he is coming in to try to get maximum leverage on his shots.

And Tyson bit Holyfield because that was a way out of the fight because he was going to get stopped again and took the easy way out.

He bit him because he was getting ramrodded by Holy's head time and time again..

[Anthony342]

So deliberately biting, I guess is a good way to get back at him, by getting himself disqualified? Good thinking on his part.

[atomicsad]

Holyfield got rough when fighters got rough with him. He wasn't even the dirtiest heavyweight of that era.

[The Old LefHook]

fx: Surreal Mental Image of Nigel Benn HEADBUTTING Gerald McClellan TO DEATH like a WOODPECKER

Brrrrrrr...........Brrrrr..............Brrrrr..... .....

That is probably my favorite reply! Holding him by the shoulders. It is too bad he had to kill him, though, because he was going to win the fight anyway.

Headbutting is by far the most dangerous foul in boxing, followed by the rabbit punch. I am for instant disquailification at second infraction of headbutting, regardless of round. At the very least, a fighter should lose any round during which he commits even an accidental headbutt. Make appropriate penalties and the infractions will stop.