Holmes, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights ever, knows a thing or two about both fighters. He won his first championship in 1978 and went on to defend it 20 times. By the time he hung up his gloves in 2002, Holmes had racked up an impressive 69 wins against just 6 losses.
In January 1988, Holmes faced a young Mike Tyson. The result? A fourth-round knockout that marked the first time Holmes had been stopped in his professional career. Four years later, in June 1992, Holmes went the distance with Holyfield but lost by unanimous decision.
When asked about a hypothetical matchup between Tyson and Holyfield in their prime, Holmes didn't mince words:
"Evander is the better boxer."
It's worth noting that Tyson and Holyfield did eventually meet in the ring, albeit past their prime. Their first bout in November 1996 saw Holyfield emerge victorious with an 11th round stoppage. The rematch, just seven months later, ended in controversy when Tyson was disqualified in the third round for biting Holyfield's ear.
While Holyfield called it quits in 2011, Tyson's story took an unexpected turn. After initially retiring in 2005, he made a comeback at 58 years old last November. Tyson stepped into the ring with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a controversial clash. Despite his legendary status, Tyson couldn't turn back the clock and lost by unanimous decision after eight rounds.
Holmes' opinion adds an interesting perspective to the ongoing debate about these two boxing legends. His firsthand experience with both fighters gives weight to his assessment, even as fans continue to argue about who truly was the better boxer in their prime.