Why is Holyfield always getting (bogusly) accused of head - butting?

Question

Ever since Mike Tyson accused Holyfield of head-butts, to excuse his own vicious, cowardly conduct after the ear-biting, everyone has gotten in on the act.
Every time Holyfield kicks someone's a*s, or there's some rough stuff in Evander's fights, he gets accused of cheating.

Look at the Tyson fight; Tyson is the one leading with his head. His amateurish onslaughts caused the clashes of heads.
Same thing with the Ruiz fight (the way Ruiz fights I'm surprised everyone doesn't bump heads with him), his mauling led to the butts.
Same thing two weeks ago when Evander kicked Vinny Maddalone's butt. Maddalone rushes in head first, they clash heads and Holyfield gets accused of cheating.

Answer 1

Funny that you didn't hear that before he fought Tyson. He had 3 wars with Riddick Bowe and i never heard Bowe say one thing about Evander headbutting him. I think Tyson's co-managers at that time, John Horne and Rory Holloway, cooked up that crap about Evander headbutting Mike in their first fight to deflect everyone's attention from what really happened, he kicked Mike's butt! It was clear that Mike headbutted Evander and then Mike went down when he saw it had no effect on Evander. Holyfield likes to fight inside and sometimes he leans his head on an opponents chest to get position, but i've never seen him blatantly headbutt anyone. Sometimes when both fighters are rough on the inside and throwing shots at the same time, their heads may come together, but that's boxing. These guys just don't want to give Evander credit for kicking their.........butts! (no pun intended).

Answer 2

First off I have to make it clear that I have nothing but respect for Evander Holyfield as a man and a boxer. His legacy as the best of his era is cemented in boxing lore, and his storied career a thing of pugilistic legend. The first Holyfield/Tyson fight was the single biggest fight the blogbaba ever personally attended and an event I will never forget. The beating Evander gave Tyson that night was clean and foul free from Evanders side, and I say this as an actual first person witness, Evander embodied a class act that night.

Unfortunately the reality is Evander is no angel, and boxing is a dirty, rough and sometimes ruthless business. In the previous fight with Bobby Czyz, Evander looked every bit the shot fighter Tyson thought he was. With all due respect to all concerned with the Holyfield/Czyz fight, and with shades of Ali screaming at Angelo Dundee to stop the fight because of a substance Liston's people allegedly applied to Liston's gloves blinding him, Czyz's eyes teared up burning from what Bobby described as liniment or a substance like it. Stuff like that doesn't just magically appear on a fighters gloves, someone puts it there. The head but that grew an extra head on Hashim Rockmon's head was accidental, but Evander was coming forward, head lowered, and didn't hesitate exploit the opportunity. Is Evander a dirty fighter? No, not in the blogbaba's opinion, but fighting is sometimes a dirty game, and dirt sometimes gets on people, even 4 time world Champions

Answer 3

I would agree with the majority of the answers here in that Holyfield does not butt intentionally, but more likely because of his style or as one person put it, perhaps it's sort of an instinct. The biggest thing is Holyfield was known as a potential butter before the 90's. He beat an undefeated Alex Stewart by the good graces of an "accidental butt" in the fifth or sixth. Stewart was winning the fight, and the fight was not stopped after the butt and consequential cut Stewart suffered. Holyfield built on the injury and ended up winning in the eight by TKO. That was the first time I recall him being known as a "butter." Also note how he was watched like a hawk in the Foreman fight, the ref constantly warned both fighters really, but in my opinion in was really directed at Holyfield, to watch their heads. So Tyson nor Tyson's team was not the first to notice the tendency to butt.

I also thought I'd note Stewart and Holyfield fought him again in the 90's and Holyfield won by decision without controversy I believe.

Answer 4

You're getting some awesome answers here. I am impressed.

Hollyfield is not a dirty fighter---he gets his head in position very competently. And yes, he does butt. but...

not intentionally. There was once a majorly great fighter who could run a speed-bag with his head butts. Name? Roberto Duran. Another great head-butter? Livingstone Bramble---famous for kicking Ray Mancini's behind.

hollyfield is justly famous for his incredible pre-fight conditioning and hard work---he is the classic over-achiever. Wish he'd retired sooner, and had stayed retired. He might, however, surprise the hell out of all of us and capture a minor title again. But he's no Foreman---Foreman was likely the hardest-hitting human who ever got in the ring. Hollyfield was maybe the hardest-working champ, and Hollyfield knew how to prepare for a rematch. But I don't see him having a successful comeback---he's just not big enough. He was always an overachieving cruiserweight, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Answer 5

Because Holyfield really uses his head, literally, in his fights. He tends to charge into his opponents head first, and boy, he does have a rock-hard head. I don't think, though, that he intentionally headbutts his opponents. It's more of an instinct on his part, I guess, and should not overshadow his great talent and skills as a fighter. As for Tyson, he's one of the great fighters who uses head movement in order not to get hit. It shouldn't be mistaken as head-butting.

Answer 6

When people lose they make excuses. Its easier for them to say Evander headbutts, than to say I lost to a better fighter. It also creates contaversy. Maybe they think it will keep them in the picture for big fights if there is a question.

Answer 7

That is the way he fights. He is not trying to head butt the opponent, it just happens. I don't think he has ever been disqualified for blatantly head butting. I may be wrong.

Answer 8

it just depends who gets the short end of the stick on the clashing of heads and how many times its happens. tyson felt he did and that just broguht it to people's attention. and then came the rahman fight...boy that was nasty.

fortunetely, for evander his cranium was sturdy enuff to administer the blow instead of receive it...

i just hope he doesnt fight anymore