I’m not too sure which fight people have been watching— but I saw nothing easy about either fight.
Sticking with their original meeting in 1996, I saw a competitive 50:50 fight with both fighters having their word. If anything, Tyson actually landed the heavier artillery, but Holyfield as always— fired back.
In the end, on the night — the decisive factor in Tyson’s demise was that, he ran out of steam, before a super-fit ( PEDs facilitated) Holyfield… And when an elite fighter tires, then he is just like everyone else & becomes vulnerable to the cumulative effects of medium power punches … just ask George Foreman about this !
Did Holyfield have Tyson’s number ? Absolutely not ! IMHO, the post prison version of Tyson was a shadow of his former self & was a fighter in stark decline— both mentally & physically… but Holyfield’s style was not Tyson’s undoing… What really proved to be Tyson’s Achilles heel was his lack of box -fitness …
Team Tyson made a big matchmaking mistake by accepting this fight, so soon after Tyson’s release from the penitentiary. Team Tyson made a huge tactical oversight in mistakenly believing that Holyfield was washed up & finished —following his KO loss to Bowe in 1995.
A knockout artist like Tyson assumes he will knock everybody out — same as George Foreman used to think. So when such front runner fighters come across that rare opponent who withstands their initial assault — it poses a conundrum… However, they would have a better chance to solve this puzzle / conundrum— if they came in to the fight more prepared for a 12 round fight.
Stamina issues were never a concern for prime Tyson— but 3 years of prison seemed to sap his energy reserves… I don’t think there was anything particularly special about Holyfield’s game that prime Tyson couldn’t or wouldn’t have dealt with.
Finally, Holyfield would always give Tyson a stern test because he wasn’t scared of Tyson & he could fight inside … But IMHO, that still wouldn’t be enough & a fully fit, Peekaboo Tyson would overwhelm him for a middle rounds TKO. In the natural form, both guys were equally tough but Tyson was always the better attacker & I believe he beats Holyfield — based on superior firepower & speed.
