Holyfield - Dempsey

[hopkinsfan07]

at 190

[rekcutnevets]

I think that Evander peaked after he first loss to Bowe, even though he got a few health concerns a little later. This is when he learned that technique, and strategy, were just as important as his heart. The Holyfield that fought Tyson would beat Dempsey.

The Holyfield that lost to Riddick Bowe was too willing to trade with his opponent, and simply try to outwill him. This would not have worked against Dempey.

You said the fight would be at 190, so I'm going to say that Evander would have yet to learn his lesson at this point. Dempsey by ko round 9. It is hard to picture.

[salsanchezfan]

I'll disagree with you on one point, Rek........the peak Holyfield in my opinion was at cruiserweight.

His march to heavy came at an opportune time for him, as he was just reaching his physical peak, but that jump also meant he couldn;t steamroll guys as he had been. Suddenly, he had to adjust and be more opportunistic and finesse his way through certain situations he could just by physical with at 190. In short, he had to compromise overall effectiveness for guile at heavyweight. He had to squeak by. Therefore, I can't call him a peak fighter at heavy.

I do agree that Dempsey stops him, though. Dempsey would be like Qawi the first time around, but more mobile and harder-punching.

[robert ungurean]

Dempsey would catch him.Cant say when but he would take Holy out.

[Zakman]

Dempsey would catch him.Cant say when but he would take Holy out.

I'm a big, big Holyfield fan, but Jack Dempsey is one of the most underrated HW champs today and I'm inclined to agree. Dempsey didn't fold like Tyson when people weren't afraid of him, he just kept coming. He'd get Evander. If Bowe could take Evander out, the Manassa Mauler sure could.

[UpWithEvil]

I'll disagree with you on one point, Rek........the peak Holyfield in my opinion was at cruiserweight.

I agree with this, Evander was an incredibly dominant fighter as a cruiserweight; the explosive, 185lb Holyfield has it all over the "grinder" 210lb Holyfield.

[hopkinsfan07]

you are all saying dempsey would ko him but holyfield had a great chin even more so at cruiserweight

[salsanchezfan]

you are all saying dempsey would ko him but holyfield had a great chin even more so at cruiserweight


............Sure he did, but anyone can be hurt. He was shaken a couple times by a far softer puncher in Qawi at that weight. Qawi was no Dempsey in the power department. He was also faster than Qawi.

[Senya13]

Holyfield wins a dirty match on points, close decision.

[UpWithEvil]

you are all saying dempsey would ko him but holyfield had a great chin even more so at cruiserweight

Holyfield could take a better punch as a heavyweight than he could at cruiser - the most amazing thing about his steroid-fueled physical transformation under the guidance of Lee Haney was Holyfield's massive neck. That's the reason Evander could go toe-to-toe with Riddick Bowe and George Foreman.

In every other aspect of boxing, however, Holy the Heavy was inferior to the cruiserweight. Were they to somehow meet in the ring, I'd take the cruiserweight incarnation over the heavyweight championship edition by a solid JD.

[rekcutnevets]

Physically, Holyfield may have been at his peak at 190. His technique, and willingness to stick to game plan was not. He had the ability before the Bowe fight to be as good as he became in his 30's. Watch the 1st round, of his 1st encounter, with Riddick Bowe. That was an excellent way to try to fight Bowe. The problem is that he was willing to throw any strategy out the window and try to outwill his opponent as soon as he got his bell rung, or wanted to get even with his opponent. Holyfield had some memorable trades because of this flaw, so I am glad he had it. Stewart, Cooper, Bowe, great exchanges.

It was not until he lost his first fight using his will that he was willing to follow a game plan.

[Duodenum]

I don't see Dempsey losing to Holyfield. Evander needed a solid chin, because he got hit so much. He also has a body beneath his jaw, something Jack would not have overlooked.

Muscling Dempsey back wouldn't work as it did against Tyson, because of Jack's footspeed and lateral mobility.

Because of Evander's huge heart, this would need to be stopped by his corner or the referee.

Dempsey RET or RSC 8 Holyfield

[Bummy Davis]

Dempsey had the real firepower here, I pick Dempsey by a stop but the older(championship era) Dempsey was not as fit and would give up stamina to Holyfield, could be outworked prime vs prime Dempsey by a stop

[Holmes' Jab]

Dempsey stops him. Holyfield like the warrior he is gives a game performance, but goes out on his shield late on in the contest.

I agree with Duodenum (to an extent) that muscling Dempsey back wouldn't work as effectively as it did against Tyson in '96. A pre-Buster Douglas Tyson did have this aforementioned footspeed and lateral mobility on the same level as Dempsey- the version Holy faced did not.

[Icemmann]

Are you guys nuts? Holyfield would headbutt him into submission.

[dmt]

I'd pick Jack Dempsey. Holyfield was great: fast but Dempsey was faster: powerful but again Dempsey hit harder. Dempsey's swarming style plus Holyfield's willingness to trade in this fight would cost him and he'd either lose by decision or a late stoppage in an entertainig hard fought contests.

[dmt]

Are you guys nuts? Holyfield would headbutt him into submission.:lol: funny but he wasn't that bad when it came to head butts.

[Icemmann]

:lol: funny but he wasn't that bad when it came to head butts.
Tell that to this guy

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[JohnBKelly]

Holyfield v Dempsey two determined warriors. Dempsey would have the edge in speed and power. Holyfield would fight all night but he never had genuine KO power even as a cruiserweight. Dempsey puts the heat on Evander early and the Georgian has to starting jabbing and moving or get KO'd. At 190lbs Evander doesn't know how to run so he trades and Dempsey bowls him over by the 8th.

[Duodenum]

Are you guys nuts? Holyfield would headbutt him into submission.What is his nickname anyways, Real Meal, or Hammerhead Holyfield?

[hopkinsfan07]

Tell that to this guy

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

:lol: WTF

[Rattler]

I don't see 190 lbs. Holyfield being overwhelmed by anybody but a large heavyweight.

What made Holy special from the beginning, was a ring intellect that most young fighters don't have. He would know to hold Dempsey, to keep moving laterally. Sure, he'd stand and trade sometimes, but nobody is going to just carve that chin up.

Holyfield had a solid punch at cruiserweight, a great chin and incredible stamina. He's one of the few modern fighters who wouldn't get rattled going into the championship rounds, beyond the 12th. Yes, Dempsey is a handful at 190, but Holy was at his perfect weight there. Qawi was no Dempsey, but Holy did very well dealing with the pressure - the kind of pressure few fighters in history could handle in their 12th pro fight.

Holyfield possesses some of the intangibles and boxing acumen that Tunney used successfully against Dempsey - not a peak Dempsey, I know, but the style still gave him problems - and Holy would know what to do in the ring with Dempsey. Plus, this idea that Holy would get too caught up in standing and trading with Dempsey.... that was HW Evander, the guy with the Napoleon complex, who wanted to prove he could bang with anyone.

At CW, Evander boxed; he moved. He didn't get left hook happy or flat footed all the time.

This is a pick em', to me, because Holy has the necessary physical and mental skills necessary to give Dempsey fits.

[hopkinsfan07]

I don't see 190 lbs. Holyfield being overwhelmed by anybody but a large heavyweight.

What made Holy special from the beginning, was a ring intellect that most young fighters don't have. He would know to hold Dempsey, to keep moving laterally. Sure, he'd stand and trade sometimes, but nobody is going to just carve that chin up.

Holyfield had a solid punch at cruiserweight, a great chin and incredible stamina. He's one of the few modern fighters who wouldn't get rattled going into the championship rounds, beyond the 12th. Yes, Dempsey is a handful at 190, but Holy was at his perfect weight there. Qawi was no Dempsey, but Holy did very well dealing with the pressure - the kind of pressure few fighters in history could handle in their 12th pro fight.

Holyfield possesses some of the intangibles and boxing acumen that Tunney used successfully against Dempsey - not a peak Dempsey, I know, but the style still gave him problems - and Holy would know what to do in the ring with Dempsey. Plus, this idea that Holy would get too caught up in standing and trading with Dempsey.... that was HW Evander, the guy with the Napoleon complex, who wanted to prove he could bang with anyone.

At CW, Evander boxed; he moved. He didn't get left hook happy or flat footed all the time.

This is a pick em', to me, because Holy has the necessary physical and mental skills necessary to give Dempsey fits.

good post :good

[Sonny's jab]

I think it's too close to call a winner on this fight.

I believe Dempsey at his absolute peak might be devastating enough to be favoured over, or at least 50-50, with virtually ANYONE.

But Holyfield's style has always thrived against the most aggressive high-energy type fighters. Holyfield is the ultimate counter-fighter

A match-up of these two is guaranteed to be exciting. And there will be no quitting or faking in this one. Two warriors making war. What more can you ask for ?