Prime Evander Holyfield vs the Klitschko brothers

[Beeston Brawler]

Bruno wasn't that bad - I certainly don't think he is as inferior to Wlad as many.

His resume certainly doesn't reflect how good he was, he outjabbed Lewis (albeit an offcolour Lewis in Frank's best showing) and rocked Tyson to his boots.

He was more durable and had a better chin than Wlad, despite being stopped five times, all were against elite names, at or near their primes - Smith later won he WBA, Spoon was good, Lewis was 3/4 year before his absolute best, then thereKs the losses to a peak, then slightly faded Tyson.

[lefthook31]

It would certainly be interesting to insert Wlad into the fights that Bruno was stopped in. I think Wlads overall skills were better than Brunos, but it still would be interesting.

[Unforgiven]

Originally Posted by ChrisPontius

He sure has a lot of those. Wouldn't you say that Bruno is pretty solid offensively, though? If not for his durability and stamina problems, he'd be extremely hard to beat. Ironically, the same is true about Wlad, only he's a class above in almost every department, including and especially in those shortcomings.

Bruno's pretty solid offensively, but prime Holyfield would have been too much for him certainly.

I'm not saying Wlad's bad or that his performance against Mercer wasn't good, but the way people here used it as an example of his "all-time great offensive ability" I was expecting to see a lot more than what I got when I viewed it. I even heard people saying he displayed the best heavyweight offense since Joe Louis !

Anyway, if Wlad has anything substantial over Bruno it's the patience and cool-headedness he's learned over his career. See him now, he's very mature and doesn't even try to impress. Bruno was often too keyed-up, nervous or just rushing things too much because he was out to impress.

Bruno fought plenty of washed-up out-of-shape has-beens, true.
I'm not sure Wlad would have done any better against the guys who actually beat Frank though.
And the guys who beat Wlad are similar to men who were brought in on the Bruno meatwagon, to be honest.

[lefthook31]

I'm not sure Wlad would have done any better against the guys who actually beat Frank though.

Me neither. Maybe Witherspoon or Smith.

[lefthook89]

Originally Posted by Blood Green

Too emotional. Holyfield had all sorts of problems with the only skilled, tall fighting, big man he fought--Lennox; Bowe didn't fight tall and Valuev isn't too skilled. Both Klitschko's can fight similarly to Lennox except they'd initiate more clinches to avoid infighting. It would be an uphill battle for Holy.

lennox lewis was an elite HW that beat just about everyone that he came across, there was only ONE lennox lewis that possessed his skills, and that was.. you guessed it!! lennox lewis himself!! so no, he didn't have a problem with big men, he had a problem with lennox lewis. as for riddick bowe, he's a tough customer for anyone. and dont even get me started on valuev, robbery at its finest. both klitschkos fight way too timid and one dimensional to be compared to lennox lewis.

the excessive clinching you speak of would be a bad move as holyfield fights off the clinch better than most HW's. sorry blood, jabbing and clinching isn't gonna beat a prime holyfield. it can beat TODAYS holyfield though, i wont argue against that.

[Beeston Brawler]

Originally Posted by Unforgiven

Bruno's pretty solid offensively, but prime Holyfield would have been too much for him certainly.

I'm not saying Wlad's bad or that his performance against Mercer wasn't good, but the way people here used it as an example of his "all-time great offensive ability" I was expecting to see a lot more than what I got when I viewed it. I even heard people saying he displayed the best heavyweight offense since Joe Louis !

Anyway, if Wlad has anything substantial over Bruno it's the patience and cool-headedness he's learned over his career. See him now, he's very mature and doesn't even try to impress. Bruno was often too keyed-up, nervous or just rushing things too much because he was out to impress.

Bruno fought plenty of washed-up out-of-shape has-beens, true.
I'm not sure Wlad would have done any better against the guys who actually beat Frank though.
And the guys who beat Wlad are similar to men who were brought in on the Bruno meatwagon, to be honest.

Exactly.

I wouldn't see Bruno losing to Purrity, Sanders or Brewster.

But Holyfield from 1986-1999 would destroy any version of Bruno, unless he had an off night, and the Bruno of the Lewis fight turned up and had a slice of luck.

[Shake]

I'd back Holyfield to win decisions against both, he might stop Wlad. The fight with Vitali could be disputed with both men doing good work in what could be a strange clash of styles and a modern classic.

[Beeston Brawler]

I think Holyfield would stop Wlad.

He would look to drag Wlad into a war, and whilst Wlad is usually very disciplined and capable of discouraging the opponent, his punches wouldn't have a great effect on Evander..... who would shorten the range and fire back with interest to force a stoppage/towel around the 5th or 6th.

Holyfield vs Vitali.....

Will have a further think about this one and post later.

[PowerPuncher]

Originally Posted by lefthook31

It would certainly be interesting to insert Wlad into the fights that Bruno was stopped in. I think Wlads overall skills were better than Brunos, but it still would be interesting.

Tyson/Lewis he gets KTFO 100 out of 100 times, Smith/Witherspoon he has a good chance to beat but then again he had a good chance to beat Brewster/Puritty and he didnt

Bruno would have also done pretty well with an Emanuel Steward

[sugarsean]

Originally Posted by Blood Green

Wow, you're really on Holy's nuts here. Holyfield has persistence and "slick defense" issues, to say the least. We have two references for how these fights could go: Lewis/Holyfield I and Lewis/Holyfield II.

Holyfield was 37 years old had had many wars and was outweighed by 30 Ib's against Lennox plus Lennox Lewis is one of the top ten greatest heavyweights that ever lived and was most likely at peak in them fights, this thread is about a peak Evander Holyfield.

anyway Holyfield by 7 Rd KO over Wlad and Holyfield by Dec over Vitali

Wlad and Vitali are good fighters but Evander Holyfield is one of the greatest of all time and a legendary fighter, great chin, perfect footwork, fast combinations, great jab and overhand right and a great stragiest.

I think there size give him trouble but that Holyfield has the answer for everything they have and wins clearly after he adjust's to their size.

[anon1]

i'm going to go with the fighter who is by far more proven.

[JohnThomas1]

Originally Posted by mr. magoo

Abe Simon.

[kinski]

Bruno could lose to Brewster,Sanders and Purrity! He was 2 inconsistent and he's not better then Waldo. I think Waldo could decision Evander. How many rounds has he lost in his career?!

[Boilermaker]

Originally Posted by kinski

Bruno could lose to Brewster,Sanders and Purrity! He was 2 inconsistent and he's not better then Waldo. I think Waldo could decision Evander. How many rounds has he lost in his career?!

Inconsistent?

He lost to Tyson, Lewis, Witherspoon and Bonecrusher Smith. 2 ATG champions and two solid alphabet champions.

Wlad lost to Purity, Sanders and Brewster. Two guys who just barely got their hands on a WBO title, and both did so simply by means of beating Vlad. The other simply never reached world title level. Furthermore, In the Lewis, Witherspoon and Bonecrusher Smith fights, Bruno put up a better effort than Wlad did in each of his losses. And the Tyson blowouts where Bruno was outclassed was not as bad as the Sanders blowout of Wlad.

Wlad has improved since those days and has accomplished more than Bruno, but you cant say he is more consistent, because he wasnt.

[kinski]

Like I said "inconsistent". Go back and look @ Brunos career. He could always came up short!