Most of the respected Boxing journalists from the UK who covered the fight reckoned Holmes had used up one of his lives.
I didn't think that was a gift. Tim blew his chances after that amazing 9th round in my opinion, acting as though he'd already won the fight. He just didn't have the experience to know better. That said, Tim did a truly terrific job in that fight, especially incredible given his small record. That was ample proof that Larry was past it (I count the Cooney fight as the end of his prime).
I had Holmes winning by one point, however I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd lost it. I think both I and the judges gave him the Championship benefit of a doubt.
Carl did great the first 7 rounds, but he started going downhill after that, and twice almost found himself knocked out. In both Carl and Tim's situations, had they fought Holmes with another year under their belt they probably would have won.
Yeah. Williams and Witherspoon were hand picked. The fact that Larry looked so bad against two relative novices shows how far he had gone back.
Oh yeah, and for good reason. I think people were pretty freaked out watching this Truth outjab Larry Holmes. First half of the fight Carl looked like the Champ, imo. And I remember feeling a little sorry for Larry, my favorite fighter.