I'm assuming this is the Holmes from 1978, so a ten year's younger version than the one Tyson fought in '88. I guess it's easy to be swayed by what happened in that fight but Holmes was well past it. If Holmes could ride out the early storm and get Tyson to respect his power, he would edge it on points. But Tyson was truly awesome at that point so I'm just edging towards him.
Tyson sparks this f@ggot in round 6 I give him 2 extra rounds in his prime ... but a very high chance he gets put down before the bell for round 6 rings ...
Tillis, a poor man's Holmes took Tyson the limit, gave him all he could handle and then some. But Holmes isn't making it past round 6? riiiiight.....
For Holmes to beat a prime Tyson, it would require him to carefully manage exchanges for a long, long number of rounds and avoid a firefight. I don't think anyone believes Larry is winning a shootout. The question then is whether there is precedent for Holmes managing exchanges with quality opponents in just this manner. Well, aside from Cooney- who appeared to be content with managed exchanges and never truly put together an intense attack, there just isn't. Holmes has become an almost mythological "master boxer" with nostalgic hindsight and this idealized position doesn't match with what actually occurred. If he was that illusive and technical, old Norton wouldn't have gotten to him as often as he did and he would have surely danced methodical, slow Weaver to a shutout points win. I'm no Tyson fan, but I'd bet the rent money on him each and every time.
If Tyson doesn't get Holmes out early he's going to eat a lot of jabs and right counters, and that's going to take its toll both physically and psychologically. The chances that he'll knock Tyson out are exceedingly slim, but I'd bet a sum it would hurt to lose on Holmes winning a clear UD.
Tyson was still green then. Tyson clearly won. Tillis only managed to survive 12 rounds with a young Tyson. Prime Tyson would repeat what he did to Holmes when they actually did fight. No version of Holmes beats Iron Mike Tyson in his prime. Unless he decides to hug Tyson to a decision loss.
So Tyson was green for Tillis but washed up for Douglas less than 4 years later? Typical Tyson fanboy logic.
If I hadn't lived through it, I'd swear Holmes never went life and death with an ancient Norton, greenhorn Witherspoon, was losing to plodding Weaver before landing the KO punch, and got thoroughly outboxed by Carl Williams. This alternate version of reality where Holmes would stay in the pocket and carefully avoid Tyson's missiles being shot at lightning speed and cooly counter for a dozen rounds and grind him down, which performance is that "vision" based on? Ah, an idealized vision of Holmes that never existed. Gotcha.
No but he's not as green as many like to think. The way some talk about him, you'd think it was his 1st fight!
Don't play that game. Tyson was clearly green ... Tillis was Tysons first test... and just because he didn't stop Tillis doesn't mean he didn't clearly win. Tyson was still developing and convincingly showed that the particular style employed by Tillis would be no obstacle for him. He performed better in his very next bout against Mitch Green and dominated him every round of the fight. Green was somewhat similar to Holmes. His performance against Jose Ribalta, Tony Tucker, Tyrell Biggs, Pinklon Thomas and Holmes himself should clear up any misconceptions about his ability to deal with that style. Even the Tyson that fought Tillis would KO any version of Holmes.
He wasn't "washed up" for Douglas. But, he wasn't peak, either. He changed trainers and lost commitment. Yes, he was still "green" against Tillis. He improved in the next couple of years.
