Holyfield beating Tyson twice

[Ghost Jab]

It seems that a lot of people downplay the fact Holyfield has two wins against Mike Tyson.

Mike Tyson was the most feared puncher in boxing history, and his defense and technical skills were not half baked either.

Many felt Holyfield would be seriously injured or killed.

Holyfield beat Tyson clearly in the first fight, and won because of the ear incident the second fight.

Why doesn’t Holyfield get his due recognition for defeating a young legend? He proved it wasn’t a fluke the way he was fighting the second fight.

[4truth]

Seems like a lot of folks want to pretend that Holyfield faced anything like the best version of Tyson. Is that what you’re pretending?

[_Rexy_]

Cong**** on a roided up Holyfield headbutting himself to two victories I guess?

[Truth Bringer]

That was a post prison Tyson kid.

[boliodogs]

He beat Tyson twice and made him quit by biting twice knowing he would be DQed. It was two very nice wins for the great Hollyfield. I don't remember anyone saying Tyson would kill the rugged Hollyfield before the fight. Tyson knocked guys out. he never killed anyone.

[PRINCEKOOL]

Post prison Mike Tyson would beat all heavyweights active today 'I give Evander Holyfield credit, and their fights where competitive'.

Holyfield vs Tyson I was a top level fight, quality.

[deathofaclown]

The problem is most people don’t consider post-prison Tyson as the same as the pre-prison version, So nobody is ever going to get a massive credit for wins of that version.

And let’s be fair, apart from the Holyfield fight and Lewis his list of opposition after prison was very poor, Well Bruno was okay-ish

Because there was barely any middle ground between his low-level opposition and Holyfield, it’s really hard to say what level Tyson was actually at in that time. All we know he was pretty much feasting on bums and then losing when he stepped up

[QueensburyRules]

It seems that a lot of people downplay the fact Holyfield has two wins against Mike Tyson.

Mike Tyson was the most feared puncher in boxing history, and his defense and technical skills were not half baked either.

Many felt Holyfield would be seriously injured or killed.

Holyfield beat Tyson clearly in the first fight, and won because of the ear incident the second fight.

Why doesn’t Holyfield get his due recognition for defeating a young legend? He proved it wasn’t a fluke the way he was fighting the second fight.

- -Mr Field weren't worth a taste, so Mike expectorated him across the ring like a hunk of phlegm.

Not even good for cannibal fare.

[a.rihn]

Why doesn’t Holyfield get his due recognition for defeating a young legend? He proved it wasn’t a fluke the way he was fighting the second fight.

Because Tyson wasn't a "young legend" at that point. Tyson was 30 when they fought the first time.

In hindsight, knowing now that after Holyfield, Tyson would start fighting tomato cans (and eventually lose to a few), it is easy to dismiss Holyfield's wins, I agree.

Holyfield was Tyson's big test post-prison. They were his fifth and sixth fights back, and numbers 3 and 4 were against belt-holders (Bruno, WBC; Seldon, WBA). I believe Tyson was the odds favorite in the first fight by a strong margin.

At the time, maybe it seemed like an upset and a huge win for Holyfield, but having seen where Tyson was mentally and emotionally, too unstable to maintain focus for serious training and fights, it does temper how we view Holyfield's wins.

The biggest shame is that they didn't get to fight back in 1990, as originally planned. Many things could have come out differently.

[Iliketofight]

Even a roided up Evander I don't think takes Mike in his prime. Even he said he was lucky to fight Mike when he did because Mike became predictable in the way he moves.