88 TYSON v. 93 HOLYFIELD - Who Wins? - 15 rounds

[streetsaresafer]

Mike Tyson (88 Spinks fight) v. Evander Holyfield (93 Bowe fight)


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Who Wins? 15 round fight

For the record, my last poll between these two was a fight between them in 1991. On the General Boxing Forum, Tyson won that poll by 1 vote, 57-56. On the Classic Forum, Holyfield won the poll by 6 votes, 30 to 24. So had they fought in 91 it appears it would have been a pick em' fight.

Now who takes a fight between the Holyfield of the 2nd Bowe fight and the Tyson of the Spinks fight?

My take

Owning and having watched nearly every heavyweight fight these 2 fighters have been in leads me to the conclusion that I can't say with any real certainty what would happen. Both were truly great in their primes.

TYSON

Strengths
Incredible combination of speed and power
Devastating combination puncher
Defensively was well schooled via Cus D'Amato's peek a boo
style most notably seen with Tyson bobbing and weaving
Deadly at mid range
Great chin
Had no problem going the distance
Kevin Rooney in the corner meant Tyson was well prepared to
deliver punches with bad intentions

Weaknesses
Clinches - Tyson even in his prime let too many fighters clinch
him and was typically not aggressive in punching his way out of a
clinch
Was still somewhat open to getting hit when coming in
What happens if he has to fight backwards?
Mental fortitude? - How does a prime Tyson deal with the
pressure fighting an ATG like the Real Deal who was not intimidated

HOLYFIELD

Strengths
Offensively as gifted a fighter as there was in many ways
He had every punch - great left hook (which was arguably even
better to the body), effective jab, good right hand,
uppercuts came naturally, you name the punch and Holyfield had it
in his arsenal
Combination Puncher - Evander was one of the best
Counter Punching - One of the best counter punchers in the
history of the division, Tyson himself called Holyfield the best one
he'd seen
Granite Chin - Took blows from Foreman, Bowe, Mercer, 96 Tyson,
Lewis, and more - Commander Vander could take a punch
Conditioning - Evander was almost always in top shape, and had
no problems going 12 rounds (he went 15 with Qawi)
Experience? - Had gone through the 1st Bowe fight and thus was
more prepared to box and execute a gameplan rather than slug it
out (not sure I agree with this one but some do think so)

Weaknesses
Power - Holy did not possess big punching power like a Tyson or
Lewis, if Holyfield knocked someone out it was typically through
attrition - overall Holyfiled's punching power was respectable
though (KO'd Tyson and Dokes, knocked down Mercer and Bowe)
Tendency to War - Holyfield could be pulled into a war (though I
think this is overstated some as I think a prime Holyfield could box
and execute a gameplan - see how he 'boxed' Douglas, Foreman,
and Bowe the 2nd time)
Bert Cooper - Holyfield was knocked down by Cooper so while Holy
had one of the best chins ever, he could be knocked down,
and thus a fighter as talented as Iron Mike certainly had the tools
to stop the Real Deal
Can be hit - Evander was no Ali in there avoiding punishment
Size - Evander was not blessed with great size

Prediction - Holyfield 15th round KO

This would be an amazing fight. Tyson would be fairly dominant in the opening rounds landing early and often, staggering Holyfield by the 3rd round. Tyson's right hands and body work in particular score the most. Despite this, Holyfield would weather the first 5 rounds, and eventually start to take control of the fight with his counter punching. Evander would also frustrate Mike some by pushing him back at times and at other times tying him up. Tyson would bob and weave significantly less once the fight goes past the 5th round and thus Iron Mike would get easier to hit. Holyfield also starts to time Tyson more and hits him with greater regularity. The fight is still close by the championship rounds. By the 15th, Tyson is exhausted from the Real Deal's continual pressure and counterpunching. Tyson can't seem to break Holyfield's will. Finally, halfway into the 15th and final round a blistering combination from Holyfield punctuated by a picture perfect left hook puts Tyson on the canvas and out.

Thoughts? Who do you think would take this bout?

I suspect Tyson will win 2/3 of the vote on the General Forum, and 55 percent of the vote on the Classic Forum (based on the fact that the voting in the 91 fight was almost dead even)

Who wins between 88 Tyson and 93 Holyfield?

[PATSYS]

Mike Tyson (88 Spinks fight) v. Evander Holyfield (93 Bowe fight)


[Only registered and activated users can see links]


[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Who Wins? 15 round fight

For the record, my last poll between these two was a fight between them in 1991. On the General Boxing Forum, Tyson won that poll by 1 vote, 57-56. On the Classic Forum, Holyfield won the poll by 6 votes, 30 to 24. So had they fought in 91 it appears it would have been a pick em' fight.

Now who takes a fight between the Holyfield of the 2nd Bowe fight and the Tyson of the Spinks fight?

My take

Owning and having watched nearly every heavyweight fight these 2 fighters have been in leads me to the conclusion that I can't say with any real certainty what would happen. Both were truly great in their primes.

TYSON

Strengths
Incredible combination of speed and power
Devastating combination puncher
Defensively was well schooled via Cus D'Amato's peek a boo
style most notably seen with Tyson bobbing and weaving
Deadly at mid range
Great chin
Had no problem going the distance
Kevin Rooney in the corner meant Tyson was well prepared to
deliver punches with bad intentions

Weaknesses
Clinches - Tyson even in his prime let too many fighters clinch
him and was typically not aggressive in punching his way out of a
clinch
Was still somewhat open to getting hit when coming in
What happens if he has to fight backwards?
Mental fortitude? - How does a prime Tyson deal with the
pressure fighting an ATG like the Real Deal who was not intimidated

HOLYFIELD

Strengths
Offensively as gifted a fighter as there was in many ways
He had every punch - great left hook (which was arguably even
better to the body), effective jab, good right hand,
uppercuts came naturally, you name the punch and Holyfield had it
in his arsenal
Combination Puncher - Evander was one of the best
Counter Punching - One of the best counter punchers in the
history of the division, Tyson himself called Holyfield the best one
he'd seen
Granite Chin - Took blows from Foreman, Bowe, Mercer, 96 Tyson,
Lewis, and more - Commander Vander could take a punch
Conditioning - Evander was almost always in top shape, and had
no problems going 12 rounds (he went 15 with Qawi)
Experience? - Had gone through the 1st Bowe fight and thus was
more prepared to box and execute a gameplan rather than slug it
out (not sure I agree with this one but some do think so)

Weaknesses
Power - Holy did not possess big punching power like a Tyson or
Lewis, if Holyfield knocked someone out it was typically through
attrition - overall Holyfiled's punching power was respectable
though (KO'd Tyson and Dokes, knocked down Mercer and Bowe)
Tendency to War - Holyfield could be pulled into a war (though I
think this is overstated some as I think a prime Holyfield could box
and execute a gameplan - see how he 'boxed' Douglas, Foreman,
and Bowe the 2nd time)
Bert Cooper - Holyfield was knocked down by Cooper so while Holy
had one of the best chins ever, he could be knocked down,
and thus a fighter as talented as Iron Mike certainly had the tools
to stop the Real Deal
Can be hit - Evander was no Ali in there avoiding punishment
Size - Evander was not blessed with great size

Prediction - Holyfield 15th round KO

This would be an amazing fight. Tyson would be fairly dominant in the opening rounds landing early and often, staggering Holyfield by the 3rd round. Tyson's right hands and body work in particular score the most. Despite this, Holyfield would weather the first 5 rounds, and eventually start to take control of the fight with his counter punching. Evander would also frustrate Mike some by pushing him back at times and at other times tying him up. Tyson would bob and weave significantly less once the fight goes past the 5th round and thus Iron Mike would get easier to hit. Holyfield also starts to time Tyson more and hits him with greater regularity. The fight is still close by the championship rounds. By the 15th, Tyson is exhausted from the Real Deal's continual pressure and counterpunching. Tyson can't seem to break Holyfield's will. Finally, halfway into the 15th and final round a blistering combination from Holyfield punctuated by a picture perfect left hook puts Tyson on the canvas and out.

Thoughts? Who do you think would take this bout?

I suspect Tyson will win 2/3 of the vote on the General Forum, and 55 percent of the vote on the Classic Forum (based on the fact that the voting in the 91 fight was almost dead even)

Who wins between 88 Tyson and 93 Holyfield?

I used to say Tyson would beat Holy by UD, due to cleaner punches but the more I see young Tyson fights, I am beomcing convinced that Holyfield beats him, even during his prime.

[PATSYS]

I go with Prime Holyfield by 15th round TKO. Jesus, this is a dream fight if there ever was one

Yes, but Marciano - Frazier or Hagler - Toney fight would prolly be more exciting for me.

[dave]

Tyson was a monster when he was with his original team and was too much for most fighters, Holyfield my have won but not like he did after Tyson left the fold.

[streetsaresafer]

bump

[lefthook31]

Holyfield would have simply been run over by Tyson, he was too big too strong for that version of Holyfield. Tyson KO 3

[lefthook31]

if holy can make it past the 3rd round than i think he wins.
Tyson wasnt a front runner in 88. He always came out strong, but the in shape focused Tyson of 88 could easily go 12 with Holyfield, and carried his speed and power into the later rounds. Can you imagine the Holyfield that fought Foreman fighting Tyson of 88. One exchange and Holyfield would be badly hurt.
You cant even compare the fight of 96 to what would have happened in 88, both fighters fought much differently with Tyson being a "real" fighter at that time.

[box03]

Tyson was a icon in 88 I dont see holyfield winning this one I see tyson knocking him out in the 8th holyfield will get tired as stamina was his biggest problem during his career and from trying to ward of tysons vicious attack it would only be a matter of time before tyson finishes him

[lefthook31]

I agree. I think Holyfield would have fought galantly, but he always got sloppier and sloppier as the fight progressed when he was younger. He looked for the brawl, and I just dont think he would have been able to stand up to a three punch combination from Tyson.

[DanePugilist]

Prime Tyson would KO any version of Holyfield.

[Wilhelm]

Holyfield was a much better boxer than anyone Tyson ever faced. He'd have beaten Tyson then as he did in their two fights later on.

[Stinky gloves]

Tyson cannot be effective after 6 round.
Either Tyson KO within 4 or Tyson DQ between 5-7 or Holyfield TKO after 7.

[nezy37]

I agree with your scenario if Holyfield gets past five but I don't think it happens. He is simply too easy to hit and Tyson had too much speed and power

[brooklyn1550]

Holyfield TKO13 Tyson

[Boxfan1]

Tyson would have ko'd Holyfied because back in 88, Tyson threw more body blows than head shots. He was also very defensive and trained to avoid getting hit. He would have crumpled Holyfield over sometime in the 5th round. Holyfield has never been good at taking body punches. By the time Foreman realized that, it was too late in his fight, and he was too slow to consistently target the mid section of the real deal. Toney knew it, and went after his body early.

[lefthook31]

Holyfield was a much better boxer than anyone Tyson ever faced. He'd have beaten Tyson then as he did in their two fights later on.
not

[lefthook31]

To add to this, Holyfield wouldnt have been the best "boxer" he faced. Clearly the guys of the 80's were more pure boxers, my guess is the bigger guys wanted to be like their hero growing up Ali. Guys like Biggs, Spinks, Tillis, Tucker, Holmes, Thomas, just to name a few, were tall mobile guys that liked to operate from the outside behind their jabs. Tyson was very good with his own jab, setting up his combinations to get inside.
Holyfield probably at that time would have represented the best fighter he faced, but lets face it, we didnt know how good Holy was until well down the line and if Tyson blew him out like he did Spinks, people would have said Tyson was simply too big and strong for Holyfield. Judging by some of Holyfields future fights with guys who would mix it up with him, he would have had his hands full with a very elusive, technically sound Tyson that was coming forward with a good jab and combinations. Unfortunately we will never know. :?

[josak]

Tyson cannot be effective after 6 round.
Either Tyson KO within 4 or Tyson DQ between 5-7 or Holyfield TKO after 7.
Lies. Tyson knocked out Jose Ribalta in round 10, KO'd Tyrell Biggs & Ruddock in round 7. He knocked down Douglas in round 8. He's won wide UD's against Tucker, Smith, Green, Tillis.

[Stinky gloves]

Lies. Tyson knocked out Jose Ribalta in round 10, KO'd Tyrell Biggs & Ruddock in round 7. He knocked down Douglas in round 8. He's won wide UD's against Tucker, Smith, Green, Tillis.

Jose Ribalta, who is that guy?
No one of them is on Holyfield level in terms of boxing skills.
He knock down Douglas but was knocked out later.
If Tyson not KO Holyfield early he get frustrated and outboxed by Holyfield.
Holyfield did not tire easily at his peak years so he will have more in the tank at the end.

[ChampionsForever]

I think Tyson would have won 7 times out of 10, he had to much, was faster, stronger and didn't tire out which proved to be one of hes major downfalls in hes comeback, he just lost hes stamina.

[Skital]

Everyone that beat Tyson beat him after he fired Rooney. This is no coincidence. Holyfield beat up a washed up overhyped Tyson. Douglas beat Post Rooney head hunting Tyson who didn't train, partied, etc, etc. The rest beat up a super washed out version of Tyson who only got more and more shot with each loss. In his prime with Rooney he was a beast. The Tyson with Rooney would've dispatched of every version of himself that lost between 2-6 rounds.

[Danny Ocean]

prime tyson was a myth

holyfield ko 12

[streetsaresafer]

bump

[Guru_Too_You]

Everyone that beat Tyson beat him after he fired Rooney. This is no coincidence. Holyfield beat up a washed up overhyped Tyson. Douglas beat Post Rooney head hunting Tyson who didn't train, partied, etc, etc. The rest beat up a super washed out version of Tyson who only got more and more shot with each loss. In his prime with Rooney he was a beast. The Tyson with Rooney would've dispatched of every version of himself that lost between 2-6 rounds.

Tyson + Rooney = Most Devastating Head to Head Heavyweight ever.

[Guru_Too_You]

prime tyson was a myth

holyfield ko 12
Let me know the next time somebody unifies the HW titles the hard way.

[getup]

man versus boy..,any version of holy beats any version of tyson.

mike would get countered to death and out mannned..,when i watch the quick tillis fight it tells me all i need to know..,speed and counter punching would put tyson on his heels..,no way he could win then.

holy learned this at the 84 olympic trials..,and never was beatin by any tyson any time and in 84 he outweighed evander by 25 pounds..,the 93 version of evander was 218 and bowe wighing 246 couldnt muscle him so in know mike aint...,

evander ko11

[Guru_Too_You]

man versus boy..,any version of holy beats any version of tyson.

mike would get countered to death and out mannned..,when i watch the quick tillis fight it tells me all i need to know..,speed and counter punching would put tyson on his heels..,no way he could win then.

holy learned this at the 84 olympic trials..,and never was beatin by any tyson any time and in 84 he outweighed evander by 25 pounds..,the 93 version of evander was 218 and bowe wighing 246 couldnt muscle him so in know mike aint...,

evander ko11

Depends on how much HGH you allow Evander before the fight I guess.

Tyson looked like he did in 1988 when he was 15. I have Tryon Correctional Facility pictures to prove it.

[box03]

man versus boy..,any version of holy beats any version of tyson.

mike would get countered to death and out mannned..,when i watch the quick tillis fight it tells me all i need to know..,speed and counter punching would put tyson on his heels..,no way he could win then.

holy learned this at the 84 olympic trials..,and never was beatin by any tyson any time and in 84 he outweighed evander by 25 pounds..,the 93 version of evander was 218 and bowe wighing 246 couldnt muscle him so in know mike aint...,

evander ko11 You make good points but tyson at that time would of dominated holyfields body, his stamina which is not very good would suffer. Tyson was a vicious body attacker probably the best, thats why I agree I do think it would end late probably 9th or 10th round. I see it being a competitive fight with tyson up till that point, tyson would unleash a barrage of unanswered punches that would leave the ref no choice but to stop it.

[El Bombasto]

any pre 2000 version of holyfield owns any version of tyson, he just has his number

[Imperial1]

any pre 2000 version of holyfield owns any version of tyson, he just has his number

Co-sign !!

[getup]

You make good points but tyson at that time would of dominated holyfields body, his stamina which is not very good would suffer. Tyson was a vicious body attacker probably the best, thats why I agree I do think it would end late probably 9th or 10th round. I see it being a competitive fight with tyson up till that point, tyson would unleash a barrage of unanswered punches that would leave the ref no choice but to stop it.

HOLY ALWAYS WANTED TO FIGHT TYSON..,ALWAYS...,in 84 88 91 96 97 2012 2029 holy whips his ass everytime..,always has always will!!!!!

[streetsaresafer]

I actually think Holyfield at his best was 1990 (Douglas fight)
But the reason I put the poll based on the 93 Holyfield is that some feel that he needed the experience of losing to Bowe the 1st time in order to learn to box more rather than get into a war.

Question for those that voted for 88 Tyson to win - would you agree that a prime Holyfield would have been his toughest fight to date?

Either way, I think a 90 Holyfield or 93 Holyfield wins although it would be close. I just don't see Holyfield in his prime being stopped by a prime Tyson.

Holyfield was obsessed with Tyson, that was a big part of the reason he moved up to heavyweight. He tried to get the fight with Tyson several times, starting right after the Dokes fight Holy and his team are pleading for a fight with Tyson (winner take all). They finally signed the fight in 90, but then Tyson went out and lost to Douglas. And then of course it was signed again for Nov. 8, 1991, and Tyson gets an injured rib (Elijiah Tillery's fault) and the fight is called off.

I wonder how both men's career's would have changed had they met in 89,
90, or 91 instead of 96? Obviously if Holyfield won, he would have gotten credibility as a great fighter and legitimate heavyweight much sooner than he did.

And if Tyson won, his stature would be much higher because one would have to believe that even if Holyfield loses to Tyson, he would have probably made it Mike's toughest fight to date, and you'd have to think there would have been public clamor for a rematch. Holyfield also has shown throughout his career that he can come back from adversity so you would have to think he'd have been a major player in the heavyweight division, even with a loss to Tyson in 89-91.

I guess my point is that both fighters stock would be higher had they fought somewhere between 89-91, rather than the fight we got in 96 between two formidable, but clearly past their prime fighters. Also the heavyweight division as a whole would have been that much more credible in the early 90s instead of the perception that was actually there.

[Ayatollah]

Hollyfield beats the crap out of hyped Tyson 10 out 10 times.