Could Joshua have taken the title from Holmes in 85 ?

Holmes was very savvy but he can't beat father time in 85. Joshua youth too hard to overcome. No stoppage. Joshua pts.

 

The version of Joshua, who beat Wlad, was doubtful for a while, over 12. I wouldn't be too confident about Joshua over 15 - even against a jaded Holmes.

 

I thought Holmes beat Spinks cleanly in the rematch. I think that version of Holmes wins a decision against AJ.

 

How elusive was he though? Guys like Weaver and Witherspoon had no trouble landing on him. Why shouldn't Joshua do the same?

 

Yes

 

They were both quicker than Joshua. Even then Holmes was able to take whatever they could dish out. Holmes had a excellent chin/recovery powers along with the expericance. There is really no route for victory here for AJ. Is he going to outbox Larry Holmes? Knock him out? He's just too big right?
How did Cooney do against Holmes? Was his size too much for Larry?

 

Yea he could take it, when Larry gives it to him.

 

Joshua might well be the best puncher Holmes faced so him knocking Holmes out is far from implausible

 

Holmes would be constantly getting beaten to the punch early on and wasn't as good as Wlad on the outside at this point in their careers, really not that controversial of a statement if Michael Spinks can hold his own against you, I'm sure someone will give me grief for it though.

If Holmes can weather an early storm, he has a chance to get AJ out of there later on, but I don't think he had a good enough work rate at this point in his career to seriously trouble AJ on the cards in a 12 round fight. 15 rounds certainly makes it more interesting, as stamina and experience comes more into play, but Holmes would be getting absoloutley bombarded in the first half and isn't going to pot shot his way to victory. Also Holmes gets dropped and stopped I would not be surprised

 

Very hard to know. Larry would put the pressure on him, but Joshua's size is his biggest advantage. I remember Witherspoon giving Larry all he could handle, but he was not as big as Joshua. I would say Joshua wins but not easily. I think Larry makes it a hell of a fight before Joshua stops him late. I think this same Larry Holmes knocks out Wilder of today.

 

I think people here have a bad recollection of the Spinks fights. The first fight was very close and could have gone either way. Holmes clearly won the 2nd fight and showed up very much improved from the 1st fight.

 

Parker was using the jab well to spoil and his jab was really fast, his hand speed is excellent, he is quicker than Holmes was in `85.

 

Also AJ countered much better than Larry did in `85, he just couldn`t get off after Spinks punched, AJ`s counter punching is amazingly quick and he counters in combo`s more than Larry did in `85.

 

Go educate on Holmes before you post this stupid nonsense that just makes u look the inexperienced person you are who's trying to hard without doing his research.

 

Spinks is a much better fighter than Parker. Maybe that has something to do with it.