Opinion question on Holmes - Tyson

RawHawg

RawHawg

Black Belt
@Black
Joined
Mar 30, 2013
Messages
5,794
Reaction score
35
Speculation I know, but if you watch this video between 21:15 and 21:40, does anyone think if Holmes could have maintained that pace the whole fight, constantly moving, staying off the ropes, and peppering Tyson with jabs and straight rights from long range - he could have survived and possibly even won? I'll say, for that brief period, he sure looked fantastic. I always felt prime Tyson vs prime Holmes would have been incredible. I love how Sugar Ray gets very excited when the Holmes of old makes that brief appearance "Look at Larry! Look at the jab, LOOK AT THE JAB!" : ) Some real history talking there.

 
Last edited:
Buster Douglas threw a jab, so obviously Tyson would have lost.
 
Seriously though, I think Tyson could have beaten a prime Holmes. Holmes had a style that had a lot to do with returning fire when he got hit. It was part of what made him so fun to watch. But Tyson wasn't a guy that you always got a chance to return fire against.

Tyson fizzled quickly and thats all people remember about him but at his best his technique.. well listen to Tyson at the 50 second mark. He says it best.


All joking aside, at his best, he was those things he said. Holmes was too willing to get into a shootout, had too much pride to box a smart fight against a guy like Tyson.
 
Seano said:
Seriously though, I think Tyson could have beaten a prime Holmes. Holmes had a style that had a lot to do with returning fire when he got hit. It was part of what made him so fun to watch. But Tyson wasn't a guy that you always got a chance to return fire against.

Tyson fizzled quickly and thats all people remember about him but at his best his technique.. well listen to Tyson at the 50 second mark. He says it best.


All joking aside, at his best, he was those things he said. Holmes was too willing to get into a shootout, had too much pride to box a smart fight against a guy like Tyson.
Click to expand...


I admit I never thought much about the Buster - Holmes comparison until your post, but it now has me thinking how similar that rare, fired up effort against Tyson by Buster looked very much like prime Holmes style. They even had similar builds.

One of my favorite later period Holmes wins was his crafty victory over Mercer. He pulled out every trick in the book and Ray fell for all of it.
 
That was brutality at its best...but its sad seeing a legend get put down like that...

the Ref should have stopped it after the second knock down...

Mike Tyson would have given a prime Holmes a run for his money...

Holmes took the very best from Earnie Shavers...I think he could have survived against Tyson and maybe win a MD or UD.

A great fantasy match up.
 
Is the ****ey-era Holmes pretty much considered Larry's prime?

I have often read that Holmes admits he made a big mistake coming back after a long layoff to fight the young destroyer Tyson. He wishes he had taken some tune-up fights to get ready.
 
Shit... fuckin' prime Larry Holmes...

There goes my day... so many good fights.
 
prime tyson is a candidate for goat. too bad he let the poon tang take his belt
 
RawHawg said:
Is the ****ey-era Holmes pretty much considered Larry's prime?

I have often read that Holmes admits he made a big mistake coming back after a long layoff to fight the young destroyer Tyson. He wishes he had taken some tune-up fights to get ready.
Click to expand...

That and a few fights prior I would say.
 
LogicalInsanity said:
Holmes was still pretty damn good at that advanced age...hell, look what he did to Ray Mercer several years after.
Click to expand...

Not when he fought Tyson though. He was old and past his best then. Frankly, that win is a joke. Tyson should be embarrassed.

But in truth, thats pretty accurate. Holmes also gave Holyfield one of his closer calls after that Tyson loss too.
Tyson is the only guy that Holmes will admit beat him.
 
Seano said:
Not when he fought Tyson though. He was old and past his best then. Frankly, that win is a joke. Tyson should be embarrassed.

But in truth, thats pretty accurate. Holmes also gave Holyfield one of his closer calls after that Tyson loss too.
Tyson is the only guy that Holmes will admit beat him.
Click to expand...

After I saw what Holmes did to Mercer, I thought he may have at least a small chance against Holyfield, but Evander wasn't falling for that stuff. Heck, against Mercer, Holmes was goofing around in the corner, pretending his legs were giving out and then inviting Mercer to come to him; when he did, Holmes would whip him around at the end of the round and nail him with a flurry of punches. What an experienced pro move and won many rounds like that with the judges. Holmes pulled out all the tricks in that great win, even using the ropes for leverage on punches when the ref wasn't looking at him. He also stiff-armed Mercer and just kept his hand in his face as a range finder. That was one masterful performance from an old pro and legend.
 
LogicalInsanity said:
Larry Holmes proved that that jab is the most important punch in boxing...
Click to expand...

Well, except when Tim Bradley throws them.

served.jpg
 
In his prime he was a great fighter, but he never fought an A level fighter in his prime. I still think he deserves to be in the top 15 GHW of all time
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
1,263,357
Messages
57,223,553
Members
175,589
Latest member
Macedonac Bogdan

Share this page

Back
Top