How was Evander Holyfield so successful at Heavyweight?

[bojangles1987]

Because he had terrific skills, was one of the most versatile cruiserweight/heavyweights ever which allowed his style to counter any opponent, and had heart enough to outlast and outfight anyone.

[Reloaded]

Because he had terrific skills, was one of the most versatile cruiserweight/heavyweights ever which allowed his style to counter any opponent, and had heart enough to outlast and outfight anyone.

Exactly Evander was without a doubt a real deal ,,,, HW is not as critical on size and weight as the lighter weights consequently making the HWs much slower so overall its easier if your a good skilled boxer , if you look at the HW division the overall skill level is nowhere near the lighter weights allowing many chumps to win world titles and the good fighters to hold them a long time , greats are few and far between , they might be the biggest and strongest but as far as boxing ability goes HW is the weakest division , the best boxers are between BW and LH .

[boliodogs]

He weighed more than many famous heavyweight champions. Joe Louis 198. Marciano 185. Dempsey 189. Ali 205 Charles 185, Walcott 195, Jack Johnson 192 etc. etc.. You don't have to be a giant to be the heavyweight champ if you have speed, skill, power and a good chin.

[joe strong]

Speed, a solid chin, solid boxing skills, heart & an amazing ability to throw headbutts & the odd elbow undetected. The fouls made him very dangerous & his opponents had to be aware of it. This could alter the strategy. This nullified some of the size & aggressiveness of his opponents or it completely took them out of their game plan... Think Tyson & Rahman...

[285Kid]

He's heart was cold as ice!

[deathofaclown]

He wasn't that small/undersized. In todays heavyweight scene he would be of course, but back then he wasn't really significantly smaller than the other heavyweights. Different times.

[aldo5408]

Holyfield had a big heart and never quit. Dude went out swinging literally. All you haters are idiot mike tyson fans. If bowe was hitting tyson like he hit real deal. Tyson would cry and quit like he did vs Lennox

[Luilun]

Despite being undersized against most of his opponents?

Had a big heart and used steroids to get the strength to compete with heavy weights

[joe strong]

Holyfield had a big heart and never quit. Dude went out swinging literally. All you haters are idiot mike tyson fans. If bowe was hitting tyson like he hit real deal. Tyson would cry and quit like he did vs Lennox

You watch that Tyson/Lewis fight again. Lennox hit him with 3 punches in the 4th round that would have knocked out most HWs. Tyson was a punching bag from that point on. If he wasn't Mike Tyson the fight may have been stopped earlier.

[intoccabile]

He wasn't that small/undersized. In todays heavyweight scene he would be of course, but back then he wasn't really significantly smaller than the other heavyweights. Different times.

Outweighed by more than 15lbs in over 80% of his heavyweight fights.