Tyson-Hollyfield 1991

[El Kabong]

Why Bowe? Due to his lack of dedication n presumed fright of Tyson?

Well for a number of reasons:

1. Bowe's lack of fights against other top tier heavyweights especially power punchers
2. Bowe's willingness to give up his height and reach to fight on the inside which is what Tyson always needed vs the taller, lankier, fighters he faced.
3. Bowe and Tyson were from the same neighborhood
4. The excellent records both had at the time

You all know nothing. Tyson 1986 version destroys any version Holyfield.

Tyson in 1991 was on the slide but he took the bombs from Ruddock so he certainly could take the punches of Evander who was smaller.

Holyfield ha a chance to fight Tyson but chose Foreman instead.

I hate that "Well in his prime he was unbeatable" bullshit...Tyson was better in his prime, but let's not go crazy (as Tyson fans ALWAYS do)

Yeah Evander chose Foreman...wow, what a pushover ....might I add that Tyson wanted 0 part of Foreman in his comeback and for good reason, Foreman would have killed Tyson.

Utter nonsense Tyson chose Ruddock who was far more dangerous than Foreman. If Foreman wanted Tyson then he could also have not taken the Holyfield fight where he had even less chance of winning.

Foreman KO'd Cooney for a shot at Tyson....Tyson didn't want the fight

[mikeeod]

I feel like Tyson was made for Foreman, even more so than Evander. George would've looked spectacular destroying Mike. He would've weathered the early storm n manhandled Mike and hit him like no one else could, including Lennox. George could be outboxed, but short, squat, aggressive fighters were his favorite.

[Spicoli]

Why Bowe? Due to his lack of dedication n presumed fright of Tyson?

Well for a number of reasons:

1. Bowe's lack of fights against other top tier heavyweights especially power punchers
2. Bowe's willingness to give up his height and reach to fight on the inside which is what Tyson always needed vs the taller, lankier, fighters he faced.
3. Bowe and Tyson were from the same neighborhood
4. The excellent records both had at the time

You all know nothing. Tyson 1986 version destroys any version Holyfield.

Tyson in 1991 was on the slide but he took the bombs from Ruddock so he certainly could take the punches of Evander who was smaller.

Holyfield ha a chance to fight Tyson but chose Foreman instead.

I hate that "Well in his prime he was unbeatable" bullshit...Tyson was better in his prime, but let's not go crazy (as Tyson fans ALWAYS do)

Yeah Evander chose Foreman...wow, what a pushover ....might I add that Tyson wanted 0 part of Foreman in his comeback and for good reason, Foreman would have killed Tyson.

Utter nonsense Tyson chose Ruddock who was far more dangerous than Foreman. If Foreman wanted Tyson then he could also have not taken the Holyfield fight where he had even less chance of winning.

Tyson fought Ruddock after he and King were sued for pulling out of a earlier contracted fight with Ruddock in Canada and instead fought "a less dangerous"...Buster Douglas Douglas actually knew how to put his punches together too.

Holyfield was the champion and after a Tyson fight fell through because he was flattened by Douglas Holyfield was well within right to make a inaugural defense with massively popular cash cow Foreman. Tyson was up next and was set but he couldn't keep his dick in his pants and hands off the women..oh and had a 'hurt rib'. Enter Francisco Damiani then Bert Cooper.

Foreman and Tyson would have been a juggernaut event, HUGE! George basically called him out fight by fight in comeback.

[SugarBoxing]

Personally, I think Tyson did right not fighting George. His (TYson's) potential loss would prove nothing to me.

[ross]

All this shit about Foreman being to big and strong for Tyson

Look at their respective fights with Alex Stewart. Tyson wiped him out inside a round, using him as a comeback opponent. Formean got beat up and a gift decision and coincidentally had a harder time with Stewart than he did with Holyfield.

[erics44]

it was probably barry mcguigan that got me into boxing


but the Tyson pomp was one of the most memorable and enjoyable times for me in the sport


so im probably a fantasist but Tyson in his prime would have KOed Hollyfield in the first half of the fight


its such a pity the dream didn't last a bit longer

[El Kabong]

Mike Tyson is the ONE GUY whose losses never stuck to his legacy

"Oh he was past his prime"

"Sure he lost, but if Cus were still around!"

"He didn't train hard enough"

"He never should have left Rooney"

"Don King ruined him"

"In his prime he was unbeatable!"


Just one excuse after another and the complete denial that Mike Tyson had an easy era pre Holyfield and Lewis. The only differences in "Prime" Tyson and post prison Tyson are: a little more aggression, he stopped moving his head in round 3-4 as opposed to round 5-6, and he would throw 2-3 punches more often than just 1-2 big ones.....that is IT but that is also what happens to pressure fighters in general. Pressure fighters typically fade out of the sport by/around 27 years old just because the body can't handle the pace they set OR they have just worn themselves down by turning easier fights into battles.

[erics44]

Mike Tyson is the ONE GUY whose losses never stuck to his legacy

"Oh he was past his prime"

"Sure he lost, but if Cus were still around!"

"He didn't train hard enough"

"He never should have left Rooney"

"Don King ruined him"

"In his prime he was unbeatable!"


Just one excuse after another and the complete denial that Mike Tyson had an easy era pre Holyfield and Lewis. The only differences in "Prime" Tyson and post prison Tyson are: a little more aggression, he stopped moving his head in round 3-4 as opposed to round 5-6, and he would throw 2-3 punches more often than just 1-2 big ones.....that is IT but that is also what happens to pressure fighters in general. Pressure fighters typically fade out of the sport by/around 27 years old just because the body can't handle the pace they set OR they have just worn themselves down by turning easier fights into battles.

cheer up

[ross]

Mike Tyson is the ONE GUY whose losses never stuck to his legacy

"Oh he was past his prime"

"Sure he lost, but if Cus were still around!"

"He didn't train hard enough"

"He never should have left Rooney"

"Don King ruined him"

"In his prime he was unbeatable!"


Just one excuse after another and the complete denial that Mike Tyson had an easy era pre Holyfield and Lewis. The only differences in "Prime" Tyson and post prison Tyson are: a little more aggression, he stopped moving his head in round 3-4 as opposed to round 5-6, and he would throw 2-3 punches more often than just 1-2 big ones.....that is IT but that is also what happens to pressure fighters in general. Pressure fighters typically fade out of the sport by/around 27 years old just because the body can't handle the pace they set OR they have just worn themselves down by turning easier fights into battles.

A way for you to understand the decline in Mike Tyson.

Mike Tyson became less effective and opponents had an easier time with him after leaving Rooney as his trainer because he wasnt being taught to do what made him great.

Wladamir Klitschko on the other hand is like Tyson in reverse. His opponents used to hurt him and knock him out, whereas when he got with Steward he was being taught to do what now makes him successfull. Tysons was the headmovement and combinations, Wlads is the leaning and holding

Would this Wlad beat the Wlad that Sanders defeated? Yes, different fighter. Would the Tyson that beat Holmes and Spinks have lost to the Tyson that waded in to punches against Douglas? No, different fighter, not doing what made him successful.

Tyson losing to Holyfield, Douglas, Lewis etc should be taken as seriously as you take Wlads losses to Sanders and Brewster. He is now a different fighter.

[Beanflicker]

I'd go with Tyson for sure.

[Master]

Holyfield is an enigma, he was a great fighter but not a great champion at the weight because for all his great wins he had poor performances. Holyfield would have weight 205lb in 1991 against Tyson so Mike may have battered him but the pumped up anti-Tyson version weighing the same as Mike in the return would have beaten Tyson. Mike was deteriorating fast and prison extended his career.

[Hulk]

This is a good 2 min clip from David Ledderman if you haven't seen it:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmG_gR576EA


Foreman dismisses Tyson. Saying he'd KO him in 2 rounds. Same as Cooney. lol


Ever the showman. Still, I think he believed he could beat Tyson and had little to no fear of the man.


I suspect Tyson had some fear of Foreman, as anyone with any sense would.

[El Kabong]

At that point in his career Foreman could handle anything Tyson threw at him because of his knowledge and experience vs similar fighters stature and powerwise. Tyson had big power and was compact...Foreman would push Tyson around, establish the jab, and after that it's a piece of cake.

Tyson's head would stop moving early on due to the weight behind George's punches. Tyson meeting resistance would try to power through only to waste energy and get more frustrated. George would wobble Tyson early on and Tyson would be all done by round 5 as he did have a hell of a chin.

[ross]

At that point in his career Foreman could handle anything Tyson threw at him because of his knowledge and experience vs similar fighters stature and powerwise. Tyson had big power and was compact...Foreman would push Tyson around, establish the jab, and after that it's a piece of cake.

Tyson's head would stop moving early on due to the weight behind George's punches. Tyson meeting resistance would try to power through only to waste energy and get more frustrated. George would wobble Tyson early on and Tyson would be all done by round 5 as he did have a hell of a chin.

Foreman couldnt do all those things with Alex Stewart. The same Alex Stewart Tyson wiped out in a round

If Tyson had never faced Holmes but Holmes career had gone the same, coming back later to beat Mercer and push Holyfield and McCall I'm sure if someone made a fantasy matchup between Tyson and Holmes in 88 that most would say...

"Holmes jab would have been too much for Tyson. He proved 6 years after retiring that he could beat a short strong fighter in Mercer."

The reality is though that it doesnt work like that as we all saw. Mike cut through Holmes like he was warm butter. If you arent quick enough to deal with Tyson your getting hit and hit alot. Foreman would have looked like a cross between a mummy and a punch bag against Tyson.

Foreman wanted the fight because hes a business man and knew it was the biggest money out there for him.

[El Kabong]

Alex Stewart Alex Stewart Alex Stewart.....how about Evander Holyfield who did better against him? What ailments caused Tyson to get KO'd when George went the distance?