Holyfield beating Tyson twice

[R-Hand Southpaw]

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.

Peekaboo style requires a lot of energy and finesse that a post prison Tyson just didnt have. Also under new trainers he moved far less both with his feet and his body.

Imagine a sports player returning after injury. Some can get back to the level they were before and some cant.

While it's not a stellar win I think it was solid for Holyfield. He just doesnt get as much credit because the aura from Tyson was long gone.

Had he beat Tyson pre prison he would EASILY by higher than where people rate him.

[Ritz Kola]

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.

Excuses for mike as always. Never fails.
They didn't fight back in 1990 because Mike LOSS to a bum. A bum he had was favored to beat by a landslide wider than any bums he faced post prison. Except 1990 Mike doesn't get the excuse of "old age" BS & prison sentence. 1990 mike was 80s mike until he went to prison. Mike dominated a very weak, pathetic era of the heavyweight division in the 1980s. When the dudes with skill and size hit the scene in the 90s he couldn't hold his own. Mike is the greatest promoted fighter of all time. Which just means he's the greatest marketed fighter of all time. Thats what promoters do, they market fighters. And that amounted to massive levels of hype that last to present day- however his ability to win was never equal to the hype.

[Ritz Kola]

Peekaboo style requires a lot of energy and finesse that a post prison Tyson just didnt have. Also under new trainers he moved far less both with his feet and his body.

Imagine a sports player returning after injury. Some can get back to the level they were before and some cant.

While it's not a stellar win I think it was solid for Holyfield. He just doesnt get as much credit because the aura from Tyson was long gone.

Had he beat Tyson pre prison he would EASILY by higher than where people rate him.

So why isn't Buster higher?

[QueensburyRules]

Excuses for mike as always. Never fails.
They didn't fight back in 1990 because Mike LOSS to a bum. A bum he had was favored to beat by a landslide wider than any bums he faced post prison. Except 1990 Mike doesn't get the excuse of "old age" BS & prison sentence. 1990 mike was 80s mike until he went to prison. Mike dominated a very weak, pathetic era of the heavyweight division in the 1980s. When the dudes with skill and size hit the scene in the 90s he couldn't hold his own. Mike is the greatest promoted fighter of all time. Which just means he's the greatest marketed fighter of all time. Thats what promoters do, they market fighters. And that amounted to massive levels of hype that last to present day- however his ability to win was never equal to the hype.

- -U always been stale *******s and flat kola?

Mike a positive record breaker cleaned out the festering stink of tubby Lar 80s to set the entire sports world afire.

Only record Field set was the most hvywt title losses with nobody close to him as they continued to prop up his stiff carcass for laughs and giggles.

[ShaneMosleySr]

Lots of revisionist history in this thread.

Tyson picked Holyfield because Holyfield was supposed to be shot. Holyfield was a 25-1 underdog. Tyson was supposed to take over the division again and his one loss to Douglas was supposed to be a complete fluke.

Holyfield’s first win over Tyson is one of the greatest wins in heavyweight history.

[R-Hand Southpaw]

So why isn't Buster higher?

Buster isnt rated as high because a lot of people see it as a fluke. Buster fought the fight of his life vs Tyson and a lot of people beleived Tyson was underprepared for Buster who at the time was seen as a cakewalk. I mean, how serious are you gonna take a guy when the odds are 42 to 1?

But alas, while he did beat Tyson, Buster for the most part had had a lackluster career before and after. He lost easily to Holyfield and fought less than stellar competition the rest of his career.

One big win doesnt make someone "great". People also look for sustained success. Which is also why some people rate Tyson high and some rate him lower.

1988 Mike Tyson was a beast. But 1988 Tyson only fought in 1988. The rest of his career post prison to retirement was pretty lackluster.

I rate Holyfield higher than both those guys because Holyfield was a beast roids or no roids. The dude fought WARS and has a resume stacked with all the big names even if he didnt win them all. He took on everyone.

[Ghost Jab]

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.

Thank you for this, I feel like Holyfield doesn’t get the credit he deserves. I wish that would change.

As for today’s HWs, love em, but so tired of people saying Deontay easily KOs prime Iron Mike and Fury easily outboxes him. I think Iron Mike would have beaten them both two out of three post prison, swept them both if Prime Iron.

[Roadblock]

Not me I won a good bit on Holyfield, I knew he was the better fighter and was fearless, Mike was a bully but nobody could ever intimidate Evander, it might work on these others that were just contenders but not the real deal.

Evander would beat Mike every day of the week just better in every way except power.

[Ghost Jab]

Peekaboo style requires a lot of energy and finesse that a post prison Tyson just didnt have. Also under new trainers he moved far less both with his feet and his body.

Imagine a sports player returning after injury. Some can get back to the level they were before and some cant.

While it's not a stellar win I think it was solid for Holyfield. He just doesnt get as much credit because the aura from Tyson was long gone.

Had he beat Tyson pre prison he would EASILY by higher than where people rate him.

You make a clear argument there. Respect for that.

[Ghost Jab]

Lots of revisionist history in this thread.

Tyson picked Holyfield because Holyfield was supposed to be shot. Holyfield was a 25-1 underdog. Tyson was supposed to take over the division again and his one loss to Douglas was supposed to be a complete fluke.

Holyfield’s first win over Tyson is one of the greatest wins in heavyweight history.

Thanks for that! People seem to forget how slanted the odds were! Even post-prison, Iron Mike could have had atleast a 50-50 If not 75-25 with today’s best HWs. What Holyfield did that night in putting his gloves up and down Tyson all night, putting him down, masterclass. Holyfield is legend. Wish people could give him the recognition he deserves.