Holmes at his best beats all four fairly easily. None would have an answer for the Holmes jab. Holmes was always open for right hands so always possible Wilder or AJ land a blow that causes a KD. However Holmes unlike these four was an ATG. He would weather the storm and rise to the occasion to win each bout.
I don't think Holmes would TKO Joshua (UD instead) but other than that my predictions would be really close to yours. Wilder and Joshua both have a puncher's chance, and Fury could make Holmes look bad in winning, but I'd be pretty confident (~80%) that the assassin successfully rubs out all three targets.
Sorry. It’s all about the Holmes jab. It was so good that at his best few would have an answer for it. This plus Larry was a smart boxer. His strategy going into his bout with Cooney was a textbook example as to how to fight a left hooker.
Holmes at his best was good enough to beat ATG Lennox Lewis. He damn sure is good enough to beat these 4 men.
I'd take Holmes over all four but i wouldn't kid myself that it would be easy or anything. Holmes had plenty of trouble with good but far from great fighters like Shavers, Weaver, Snipes and Witherspoon and he'd have some trouble among this lot too, just like he did in real life. Fury's size and reasonable abilities would be a bit awkward but he lacks the power to overly worry Holmes on that front. Holmes himself is a good puncher not a great one so i see a distance fight. I think Holmes would win a decision in this one with Fury never looking like winning. He really doesn't have the power to take Holmes deep as others have. Joshua's power and fundamentals could cause problems but even if he dropped Holmes which he could well do i can't see him finising him off. He's just not good enough and man does he gas after going after someone. I could see a Holmes stoppage at some point here. Ruiz i think is benefiting from Joshua being overrated. I think Holmes would outbox him but there's every chance there will be some good exchanges and i would not be surprised to see Ruiz have his moments tho i think Holmes would win a comfortable decision. Wilder is indeed the "wildcard". He has that huge right hand and Holmes could certainly be hit by them at times. With his length and explosiveness if he straightens that right hand out a bit which he can do at times he would cause some anxious moments. I'd be surprised if he didn't tag and hurt Holmes at some point but Holmes would come off the canvas to win if need be in this one imo. Wilder let Fury off the hook so i'd be confident Holmes would survive. Wilder also gases fast after opening up and again Holmes would be a chance of stopping a tired Wilder at some point. I think the bout would have a couple of moments tho. So i'd take Holmes in all four with Wilder having the best chance of springing an upset tho i'd be surprised.
Just my opinion...I think AJ would have been knocked cold by 70s Shavers. Completely agree on the others.
I really like this answer. AJ would have been outclassed imo, and it probably would have been a boring fight until Holmes stopped him in the later rounds. This content is protected
I think Joshua would do okay, but probably lose. Williams ran him close, so did a green Witherspoon, and Spinks won. Cooney even took rounds, so Joshua should too. Wilder's money punch was something Holmes was vulnerable to, so he would have a chance. Fury would be a close fight. Too soon to tell with Ruiz; you'd think Holmes would win using his legs but Ruiz has skill, heart, speed, chin and power.
In other words, any fighter in history that’s better than Shavers would beat Holmes? Yep, can’t argue with your logic there, Steve. As for all 4 beating Shavers more convincingly than Holmes, you do know that Holmes lost about 1 or 2 rounds out of 23 in their fights?
Who exactly did Holmes beat to make these fights such a walk in the park? Norton, Cooney, and a 10 fight Witherspoon wouldn’t be on top today.