Quote Originally Posted by Mr140 View Post
I think Holyfeild had Tyson number and he actual won a lot of his big fights and was not crushing cans a lot of his career. I laugh when people say Tyson was not prime because neither was Holyfiled. I mean if i had to call the last prime version i say it was Bowie rematch he won after that Holyfeild had some really bad problems health wise after. Holyfeild was just more solid on his fundamentals then Tyson was so he pretty much outclassed him even though he was older and in worst way when it came to his health.
I don't think Holyfield had better fundamentals than Tyson.
Holyfield was more versatile. For example Tyson couldn't fight going backwards, Holy could.
Holyfield had many Great attributes, bur he had some shortcomings:
I think Holyfield fought off-balance a lot.
He didn't move his head enough; that's why he got hit so cleanly by so many fighters; he'd just stand there. His world-class chin, one of the best in Boxing, is what kept him in there many times.
He didn't have Heavyweight power, and part of that was all that nonsensical bouncing around excuse-for-footwork he'd do. When you bounce like that, your feet aren't planted, and you lose power.
He also hardly ever gets called for all the rule-breaking he did with his chronic head-butting and elbows.
Tyson, likewise had many Great attributes and some shortcomings, but he had excellent fundamentals for the style he utilized as a 5'11" guy consistently fighting 6'4" guys.