LOOKING BACK: TYSON-HOLYFIELD I
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 06 Nov 2006
Sports fans will always tell you stories of certain
events or ball games that somehow fired up their
imagination. Boxing fans are no exception, as they
have their own personal list of all time favorite
fights. But there are sporting events that we remember
because it struck a chord deep inside us.
The first Holyfield-Tyson fight had a rather
apocalyptic tone. The Bible Belter versus the Baddest
Man on the Planet. Good vs. Evil was part of the hype.
The majority of sportswriters and fans also thought
that it was going to be a tragedy in the making.
Evander Holyfield was the aging ex-champion whose
physical health was the subject of rumors and
speculation. Despite being cleared to fight by the
prestigious Mayo Clinic, the concern was that his
pride and courage would prove to be his undoing.
He was already 34 years old at this point in time. He
had gone 4W ? 3 L in his last seven bouts. One year
earlier, he was knocked out in the eighth round by
Riddick Bowe. He had looked average in beating a blown
up Bobby Czyz.
Mike Tyson was riding on the crest of a successful
comeback after being incarcerated due to a rape
conviction. At this point in time, he was 30 years old
and was still able to paralyze opponents with his dark
stare as well as his explosive punches. He had done so
four times since his return to the ring. The whole
world thought Evander would be run over by the Tyson
juggernaut.
The date was November 9, 1996. Hoylfield started as a
22 to 1 underdog but the odds dropped to 6 to 1 during
fight time. He entered the ring with a purple robe
emblazoned with a bible verse ? PHIL 4: 13?. It was
the same label seen on his trunks. I had to look it up
but I never really bought it at that time: ?I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me.?
Tyson wore his usual black trunks and shoes and the
glare that would make most opponents crap in their
trunks. But it wasn?t going to be that way that night.
Tyson did come out swinging. But this time he faced a
guy who held his ground and fired back. There was a
lot of grabbing and holding done by both men, but it
was Holyfield who showed that he was the technically
superior boxer.
Evander did a good job rolling with Tyson?s right and
then countering and backing Tyson off.
The Real Deal was sharper, quicker and surprisingly
more powerful. He managed to nail Tyson flush on
several occasions. As the fight progressed into the
fifth round, the crowd knew they were going to see
something special. The chants for Holyfield got
louder. Tyson got confused and became desperate. Iron
Mike did land but Holyfield absorbed his power quite
well.
In the sixth round, Tyson suffered a cut after a clash
of heads. Referee Mitch Halpern brought Tyson to the
ringside physician, who let the fight go on. A heated
exchange of punches followed and Evander caught the
defending champion with a hard left that sent him to
the canvas. For the second time in his career, Tyson
was knocked down.
Tyson did beat the count but it was obviously the
beaten man at this point. Holyfield reemphasized what
Buster Douglas proved in that fateful night in Tokyo.
Tyson was a bully that thrived on his opponents? fear.
If he fought someone who actually stood his ground and
refused to be cowered then the intimidator would wind
up being intimidated.
Tyson would later say that he had ?blacked out? and
would not remember anything from the third round
onwards. He and his cornermen never had an answer to
Holyfield?s strategy.
Holyfield continued his dominance in the succeeding
rounds as Tyson looked drained and often was an easy
target as he stood straight up without any head
movement. The tenth round saw Tyson being saved by the
bell after absorbing a barrage of punches.
The end came at the 11th round as Tyson absorbed
twelve straight power shots without firing back. The
referee mercifully stopped the carnage.
Holyfield was way ahead on the judges? cards when the
fight was stopped. Dalby Shirley had it 96-92,
Frederico Vollmer 100-93 and Jerry Roth 96-92.
Holyfield and Tyson would face each other again in the
infamous ? bite fight?. Evander would go on to become
one of the greatest heavyweights ever and be ranked as
high as number three on most ?all time great? lists
for his division. Iron Mike?s career would continue on
its downhill spiral. People still watch Iron Mike even
if it is for the wrong reasons. Holyfield would make
another comeback this year, still relying on his
unshakable faith. He is scheduled to fight Fres
Oquendo on November 10, 2006 in San Antonio, Texas.
Their first fight is now part of boxing lore. One of
the greatest upsets in the history of the ring. I
remember it also for other reasons. I was always a
cynical person. Maybe I am cursed to always notice the
bad things going on around me, the evil that men do
and all that, and it often gets to me. This fight had
a miraculous aura surrounding it. It somehow refreshed
my spirit and made me hope again. Hope and faith were
the best gifts that the fight offered. Nice guys don?t
finish last all the time.
Ten years have passed. I would often drift back to
skepticism and cynicism. Life isn?t just about one
magical night. But I will always look back at that
moment in time. If somebody told me ten years ago I
would find myself volunteering my services as a
physician in Africa I would laughed my head off. But
here I am. Maybe there was something behind
Philippians 4:13 after all.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Manny motors to Vegas
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 14 Jul 2025Bakbakan sa Elorde on July 19
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 14 Jul 2025Ringside, Still: Remembering Chino Trinidad
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
Fri, 11 Jul 2025