Tyson, Holmes...who did think / want to win?

I wanted Holmes to win but didn't think he would. The money King offered was what brought him back. Holmes was a warrior in the ring, but I think he knew he was in for a butt kicking not being properly prepared.

 

I would be surprised if there was anyone who at the time truly believed that Holmes, who lost his 2 previous fights against Spinks and had been out of the ring for 2 years, was really going to win.

Its hard to believe now but Tyson at the time was considered all but unbeatable.

 

Tyson 100x a better boxer than Shavers. Shavers maybe hit a little bit harder, but not much.

Tyson beats Holmes 9 out of 10 times if both in their primes. He would chop Holmes down like a tree. Holmes would try to keep his hand stretched out and jab to keep Tyson at bay, but he wouldn't be fighting a 35 year old Tyson (ala the Lewis fight). He would be fighting the ferocious machine of death that won the Heavyweight Championship of the World at age 20.

 

Holmes was actually in great shape for that fight. The commentators mention it, as well. He lost a lot of weight and Tyson was at his lightest weight around that time, I think around 214 (He was usually 220). Larry tried to frustrate Mike, but Mike just kept moving forward and hurting Larry, and if you look at the slow motion replays, you can see the FEAR in Larry's eyes. He is SCARED of Mike. Big tough, veteran, all time great Larry Holmes scared shitless of this 22 year old kid lol.

 

As soon as Holmes has Tyson backed against the ropes, Tyson would throw a shot to the body followed by a devastating uppercut and Holmes is down for the count. Even when Mike was older and strung out on cocaine, he was destroying guys who were much bigger and stronger, longer reach, like Andrew Golota, (not comparing him to Holmes in his prime, but Golota was in much better shape than Mike in that fight, and Mike still obliterated him in 2 rounds)

 

I have seen many of Shavers fights and while he could bang very well Tyson was a fast starter and could maintain pressure better for 8 rds while Earnie gassed and punched sporadically. Mike was the more dangerous guy and he had a better variety of punches and throw them in combinations. Shavers was easier to avoid and tire out and Tyson took a better punch

 

Wanted Larry to win(in part because it was for the undisputed championship, something which Larry never was), but he made a couple of mistakes and Tyson was too much for him.

 

I'd like you to give an instance of Holyfield EVER showing fear in a ring.

 

I thought Tyson was very ordinary against golata. He was extremely one dimensional, just going for that one big shot to the head, no body punches, combinations and was pretty slow as well.

If golata hadn't given it away that fight would have been very interesting

 

Prime Tyson took 4 rounds to beat a washed up Holmes. It would've gone into the 5th if Holmes arm wasn't caught on the rope.

 

It's not like Tyson hit Holmes while his arm was in the ropes! Holmes was toast.

 

He certainly wasn't in as good a shape as Tyson was for Douglas, but that doesn't stop his ( tyson ) wierdo fanboys coming up with all kinds of bull**** excuses for the fool.

 

And? that would have changed history in what way?

 

Tyson was fighting every 3 months or so, a svelte 215 and up against a guy he had studied forever...who just happened to be rusty, inactive, old and not well prepared. I'm not so sure Tyson would have beaten the best Holmes ever...though that uncertainty does swing either way.

 

Holmes wanted to win. If you watch the post fight conference of the Biggs fight (YouTube) he explained that he's been getting back in shape and that even before the fight was announced he was in fighting condition. He had plenty of time to train and prepare. He also categorically stated that he was a rich man and that he doesn't need the money.

Thing is your statement would have made more sense if Holmes didn't come back from his 2nd retirement conveniently after Tyson lost the title and the title began changing hands. Holmes retired after the Tyson fight because he believed as long as Tyson was champion, he didn't really have a chance to become champ. After Tyson lost he comes out of retirement convinced that provided the title doesn't fall into Tyson's hands he's got a legit shot.

4 years after losing to Tyson Holmes beats a prime undefeated Mercer with greater ease than Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis did to an OLDER Ray Mercer years later. I should mention that Holmes gave Evander a pretty good fight but simply lacked the youth to keep up with him.

The reality is that Tyson was simply the better fighter that night. At the time they fought, I was a boxing fan on the basis of Mike Tyson. He got me into boxing so naturally I was rooting for Mike and was pleased with the result.