Main event (1980) Muhammed Ali vs (2002) Mike Tyson Main supporting fight (1951) Joe Louis vs (2007) Evander Holyfield Also featuring (1996) George Foreman vs (1996) Larry Holmes
Some wretched matches. I'm most sure of the first bout. Tyson won't struggle to find Ali with his still-vaunted punch, & Ali, for his part, showed a complete inability to pull the trigger, as far back as each of the skirmishes with Spinks. Tyson knocks out Ali, or at the least, stops him early on. Louis still had a punch, albeit without the benefit of his scintillating handspeed, & the combinations --- though not gone completely --- were greatly reduced, both in elaboration, & frequency. He did manage to beat Jimmy Bivins around this time, which is no mean feat. What of Holyfield, though? For all he had lost, he could still fight an effective spoilers' fight, though not do much else. I'll give Louis the benefit of the doubt, landing harder, more punishing blows to take a pedestrian-speed decision, but it would be close & ugly. Well, shoot. I can't decide with the last fight. Toss the coin up, I have no clue.
