Inspired by Heavy Hands' 'Pre prime' thread - How about a round robin between the following when they were post prime but still very dangerous and putting on good performances ? Joe Louis 1946 Muhammad Ali 1974 Larry Holmes 1983 Mike Tyson 1996 Lennox Lewis 2002
'82 Larry Holmes. That wasn't really post-prime in my opinion. That version whips all of them probably, with Lennox a close second. If we have a 1985-86 Holmes, Lennox takes it by far. He wins the most in a round robin.
holmes was past his prime in 1982? he was in his absolute peak.... ali 74 and lewis 2002 are the best of your list
Larry himself has indicated that to be the case. He came of age in Shavers I and peaked late. "Slightly post prime?" I'd probably go with the Bonecrusher-Bey-Carl Williams trilogy of concluding successful defenses. [I honestly think Witherspoon was an off night, an anomaly which much of the boxing press likewise dismissed as such at the time.] Following the one year hiatus after blasting out Marvis Frazier, I believe there was a consistent decline in form, the onset of a distinct post prime. I agree with 1974 Ali. That was Muhammad's best form and speed after the 1960s, and he followed that year with ten successful HW Title defenses, over seven full years after his competitive peak. 1946 Louis, 1996 Tyson and 2002 Lennox didn't have that much left remaining in the tank.
the BEST post prime might be JJW, as he struggled for years at the TOP, was cheated of a victory against Louis, was beating Marciano fought the great battles with Charles and his Championship Win was when he was POST Prime, he was consistently EXCELLENT!
2002 lewis would have beaten 96 tyson pretty easily(who did nothing special but looking for a good predictable right hand), and he would beat a well past prime louis 46.lewis peaked late, so he was in great shape in 2002
Yes, but only competed once in 2002 against a badly diminished Tyson. Having been cleanly one punched the previous year by Rahman, and looking so poorly the following year against Vitali, how good can we be sure Lennox remained? Physical appearance can be deceptive. The body looked good, but so did Tyson's against Douglas [as Foreman was so fond of pointing out]. How much was Lennox deteriorating in speed, reflexes, coordination, punch resistance and stamina. What does Lennox-Vitali look like with Lennox a couple years younger? 1996 Tyson was a one-puncher who still had fast hands, and at least remained dangerous in that respect of McCall and Rahman, but he'd long since stopped putting things together like he did during his late 1980s title run. For me, 2002 Lennox does take 1996 Tyson rather easily, but by a decision similar to Tua. It took him eight rounds to dispose of Mike in 2002. I think he'd opt for a scorecard win with characteristic caution over the Tyson of 1996, with Mike having that reputation not originally shared by McCall and Rahman. I don't see Lennox attempting a kill on 1996 Tyson, not when there would be no need whatever to take such a risk.
Holyfield went 2-0 (1) vs. a slightly past prime Tyson. He knocked out Moorer. He went. 0-1-1 vs. Lewis (I thought 1-1). He went 1-1-1 vs. Ruiz (I thought 2-1). He outhustled Rahman, beat Oquendo, and was robbed vs. Valuev at age 46.
First, move Holmes to '84. He was at prime in 82. It would then be an Ali / Lewis final, with Ali edging it on pts.
Come to think of it,yes,1982 was probably Holmes' last prime year. I should have featured 1983 as his best POST prime year.
