Larry Holmes vs Oleksandr Usyk?

Fair.

Though Usyk didn't even build muscle. He just looked less ripped in his abdomen than usual. Probably had ate a cheeseburger or two to add some lbs.

 

I don't consider 11-1 amateur Holmes prime.

 

I don't think Nick Wells was the same as a world class pro. And Holmes had more than 20 am fights when Wells stopped him.

 

I'm not giving you kudos for not thinking an amateur fighter in an amateur fight with another amateur was a pro fighter. I honestly have no idea what you are trying to imply? I can't even wrap my mind around this foolishness. I have no reply.

 

Maybe I'm implying that Holmes didn't fight southpaws as a pro and sucked against them as an am, which would make it foolish to think he wouldn't have his hands full with Usyk.

 

I voted Usyk, who may be all wrong for Holmes but I could have just as easily voted for Holmes.
I'm assuming prime for prime and 15 rounds. In other words a 28 yr old Usyk who goes to HW a little earlier than he did in reality.

 

Agreed !!! Usyk has more skill than AJ, Wilder, Ortiz and Fury combined... The HW competition is so bad that Wilder , a fighter that cant fight and AJ, were both touted to be the greatest thing ever ... It is so funny that people will try and hang on to anything while the competition is so bad

 

Maybe, but that's not the only win that qualifies in this discussion. The guys he beat at CW would probably have been HWs in Holmes's era. So I think his CW resume is highly relevant here as well.

 

Just a couple of points: CWs today are probably generally in the 210-220 lbs range in the ring, a fairly average size for Larry's era. And 34 isn't as old as it used to be. I think most of the top 10 p4p today are in their 30's. I think we should view 35 as about the new 30.

 

Was Usyk not around 212 on fight night at CW?
And he weighed in at 221.5. So I am sure he gained some fat, but a at least a little muscle.
Nothing at all like Michael Spinks dramatic gains.

Holmes even at 209 was not sliced & diced, but not everyone needs to be a body beautiful/Mr. America.
It only got Aj so far lol!
And he had to lose mass to avoid gassing, I recall him weighing in at 254 before.
Which is great, if you are not fighting World Class competition that you cannot poleaxe in a few rounds.

 

I can agree with this take and I've settled on Joshua having been a tad overblown. In turn, too much is being made of Usyk's recent win. It happens.

That said, I did like how Usyk took advantage of the opportunity afforded him by Joshua. The latter's poor tactics notwithstanding, I have to give Usyk credit for that.

Yes, it might be a stretch to think Usyk would be a worthy challenger to Holmes, but is it too much of a stretch?
I think the styles could gel to make a good display.

That doesn't mean 12-15 competitively fought rounds wouldn't all go to Holmes, though.

Holmes, really has to be considered the likely winner, by default, at this point.

 

That's fair. One decent heavyweight win or loss in this forum and it just explodes. Joshua was the bomb at one stage then he was crap then he was ok again. With two losses so fast he's presently sitting in the good but maybe not even VERY good corner. He will have to work his way out with more than just a rematch victory. His next two fights should be telling as will Usyk
s after the rematch if he wins and gets it on with the winner of Fury - Wilder.

I'm patient as there's plenty of big moments coming up for the big 4 to give us a better handle on things.

 

He probably has more skill than anyone north of LW, so it isn't surprising that he's far more skilled than any other HW.

 

I would not say Usyk is far more skilled than Fury. Seems like an overstatement

 

Holmes weighed 209 for his title winning fight against Norton his average weight in title defences was 215lbs.