If Larry Holmes had n't have fought Michael Spinks.....

Probably someone in the unification series. Maybe Tucker, or most likely Tyson. Holmes probably could have managed to hold onto his title with King backing him and lining up fighters to the eventual showdown with Tyson. I cant see a guy like Bonecrusher Smith beating him.

 

What if Holmes fought Tubbs in '85 instead of Spinks?

I would back Tubbs, if he came in Peak condition, like he was for Page & Bonecrusher.

 

would he have fought steffan tangstad and gerrie cooney in a rematch though?

 

Tubbs could beat him, but I think King would be smart enough to preserve Holmes as Tyson was knocking off all his fighters in the Acefield tournament.

 

Holmes was in danger of losing to several of the top fighters at the time.
Spinks was considered about as safe an opponent as he could get away with fighting at the time.
Maybe he should have fought Bruno, or a faded Coetzee even. Or a faded Greg Page. The novice Tyrell Biggs. He probably beats those.

 

I put my money on Tyson being the one to do it if Holmes didnt take on Spinks.

Now I scored the first fight for Spinks. Close but clear imo.

Holmes should have regain the title in the rematch. That was a bad call imo.

 

Once Larry got to 50-0, I strongly suspect he would have called it quits, rather than tempt fate and aim for the all time record of 25 defenses for Louis, or opt for a formal unification. Carl Williams was a rough defense for him, and I'm kind of surprised that scare didn't put him on highest alert for Michael Spinks. Tubbs might have pulled it off, but he'd have to be in very good shape, at least under 230 as he was for Smith and Page. Holmes definitely wouldn't stick around for Tyson. If he could have gotten to 49-0 with an IBF-WBA unification win over Tubbs, and not had a defense lined up when Berbick took the WBC Title from Thomas in March 1986, maybe he would have opted for an IBF-WBC-WBA unification in a rematch with Trevor, then leave in time for Tyson to ascend to the vacant crown.

 

Holmes loves money, he would have wanted to fight Tyson.

 

well he might have retired at that time, but the guys who fought Tyson were better and improving by the time Larry was starting to slip a little. Larry was slipping a little when he fought Spinks in 1985.

 

Holmes may have lost in those decision he got from Carl William's and Witherspoon. If anyone saw those, they know how close they were. In rematch with Witherspoon he loses,maybe Wiliams the same

 

Great post.

 

Holmes had already made enough money and was more concerned with legacy IMHO.