Question for tyson fans

[Forza]

Why do you think he couldn't beat evander holyfield? Tyson fought him twice, got dominated both times. Was evander a superior fighter? Just had tyson's number?

[SBleeder]

I'm not a Tyson fan... in fact he's probably my least favorite boxer to watch.

Tyson had let his skills go through lack of training, and in truth, he was more of a brawler than a swarmer when he fought Holyfield.

But if they had met in the late 1980s, the result would have been the same. Holyfield had all the requisite tools to defeat Tyson, tools that guys like Quick Tillis and Tony Tucker possessed in smaller amounts than Evander. Holyfield was simply more skilled in his prime than Tyson was in his prime, and had the necessary jab and footwork to neutralize a rushing Tyson.

In addition, Holyfield had the heart, and the stamina, that Tyson lacked. Whereas Tucker couldn't finish taking Tyson to school because of his broken hand, Holyfield would have surged late in the fight to earn a UD or a late KO/TKO. It would have been the first hyper-competitive fight Mike would have ever been involved in- we all know how well Tyson reacts under pressure.

[TBear]

I think Tyson, after Rooney, after prison was a shadow if the fighter he was in his prime. But still, I think around the time Douglas caught Tyson in Tokoyo, Holyfield would have had simular sucess.

[$Bullsfam$]

Bad style match up. Tyson loved to just come right in and tear your head off. Evanders a beast on the inside with great defense and smart savy to go with it. He just neutralized him pretty much.

No matter when they fought it'd always be the same result. Unless Tyson actually learned to box and had a better stradegy. But even Prime Holyfield is a bad match up for anybody, maybe even the klit brothers. Even in defeat he fought tooth and nail with Rid**** Bowe to the very end in all 3 fights. Not to mention he gave Lennox a fight towards the end when he first started showing his age.

[Dan Vida]

Apart from the last two losses,every heavyweight that beat Tyson did so because they were simply better than him.He was certainly past his best against Lewis but he spent some six years avoiding him before he did eventually sign to fight him.I don't hold losing against Douglas against Tyson because Douglas looked a great fighter that night.But Tyson never came back and avenged his defeats the way Holyfield,Ali and Lewis did.Or the way Joe Louis and Patterson did against Schmeling and Johansson respectively.

[sonnyboyx2]

Tyson had served 4yrs in prison and was a shell of the fighter he had been in the late 1980s under Kevin Rooney, Holyfield was also not the fighter he had been 5yrs previously

[Sugarj]

Evander was simply better than Mike at that point in time (1996/97). The first fight was pretty evenly matched up till the knockdown in round 6. Tyson was ahead after five rounds, he just didn't have 12 round stamina at that point in his career.......and his skills, head movement and combinations weren't what they were 8 years previously.

Their primes never coincided, Evander was a little green at heavyweight in 1988 when Tyson was at his best.

Prime for Prime, in other words 1991 Holyfield vs 1988 Tyson would be a very good fight. Almost to tough to call, but I slightly favour Tyson in that matchup.

Both ATG heavyweights for me.

[mickey malone]

***, Drugs and Rock'n Roll, then getting picked up by Don King from the prison gates after 4 years inside must have done him the world of good!

Any fight between these two would have been highly competetive and i'd have leant towards Tyson b4 the problems started.

[BennyST]

Bad style match up. Tyson loved to just come right in and tear your head off. Evanders a beast on the inside with great defense and smart savy to go with it. He just neutralized him pretty much.

No matter when they fought it'd always be the same result. Unless Tyson actually learned to box and had a better stradegy. But even Prime Holyfield is a bad match up for anybody, maybe even the klit brothers. Even in defeat he fought tooth and nail with Rid**** Bowe to the very end in all 3 fights. Not to mention he gave Lennox a fight towards the end when he first started showing his age.

I'm not sure you could ever call Holyfield a guy with great defense. I'd go something more along the lines of great chin and ****ing awful defense.