Why doesn't anyone ever talk about Holyfield's holding in the first Tyson fight?

[sunny31]

I hardly ever hear it get mentioned, how did he not have any points deducted in the first 6 rounds? Especially when you consider that Frank Bruno employed similar tactics and had a point taken in the first round of their first fight.

Even around the time, I don't remember anyone complaining too much, or raising it after the fight. I think it was vital for Holyfield in the early part of the fight, putting Tyson's fire out, and I'm not sure he would have won without those tactics. Tyson wobbled him a bit with the first punch he landed.

I feel the powers that be wanted Tyson to lose. I feel the media, and the general public were extremely pro-Holyfield. It actually comes out in the commentary of the fight. I remember as a kid at the time being really happy when I heard Holyfield had won, but now looking back at it, I can't but help thinking Tyson wasn't on a level playing field.

Its funny how small decisions can make a huge impact on careers and perceptions in sport.

[Steven Mccowan]

Tyson has said mills lane was a holyfield inner circle guy. Not sure why nobody mentions holding. That wAs pretty much only way to beat tyson back then, jab him to keep him away but when he busted through hold on to him until ref calls break and step back. Its funny about tyson, he was probably overrated back in his day a little bit, but underrated nowadays imo. He my favorite all time fighter though because he was perfect introduction to kids of the fight game during the first wave of the add generations lol. Kill or be killed basically.

[boliodogs]

Probably because Tyson biting a piece of Holyfield's ear off overshadowed anything Holyfield did wrong. In the long history and millions of boxing matches how many boxers have had a chunk of their ear bitten off?

[TonyGe]

Holding and headbutting.

[boliodogs]

The ref should have done his job but sometimes they don't and sometimes it's deliberate. Some people of power wanted Horn to win and the ref let Horn do as he pleases and pull every dirty tactic in the book and some new ones too.

[Luilun]

Holyfield was also on Steroids

[PRINCEKOOL]

Mike Tyson kept on initiating clinches also, and smothering his own work! (Evander Holyfield was not really holding on for dear life, he was just rough housing Mike Tyson! This is quite a ****** thread!)...

[Dip_Slide]

People can make all kinds of excuses but the bottom line is this: Holyfield absolutely schooled, whooped and did a number on Mike Tyson in both fights, he was beating Tyson in all aspects of the game, he wasn't excessively holding, he wasn't intentionally headbutting, he was controlling Tyson the way any veteran in the game would do to neutralize a short aggressive fighter, tricks of the trade, no return fire, excellent job by Holyfield in both fights.

I'll say this though, Holyfield was definitley roided up to the gills in both fights, I'm sure Tyson was also on something but I think the stuff Holyfield was on was way more hardcore, but that's only my opinion though. That's the only thing I can say in favor of Mike and it's only a speculaion, we'll never know for a fact since drug testing in heavyweight boxing at the time was a joke.

[VatoMulatto]

Tyson couldn't handle Holyfield, he was too strong on the inside and he bullied the bully. Holy took Tyson's heart and soul.

[jmrf4435]

It's because the AMerican heroes always get a pass in this regard. American fans feel like they own boxing.

When a guy like Wlad does the exact same thing he is called boring and a clincher. I mean breidis this last weekend was clinching just like ward, mayweather, and holyfield did- boxing people wrote articles about how boring it was, when in reality he was neutralizing Perez for rushing in with his head down(seemingly trying to land the headbutt).

Floyd made a career out of it but it was the "sweet science". Ward clinched his way to victory a few times as well.

The un American boxer just scares promoters and fans in some circles, for reasons I do not know.