Prime Pinklon Thomas vs the following

Not sure if I’d favor Pinklon against any of those guys if everyone is prime at the times of the meetings. I WILL say that if Thomas is at his best he could make all three of those fights very close. Thomas was horribly diminished against Bowe and Evander. He shouldn’t have been in there

 

He's never beating Holmes but the Thomas that beat Witherspoon, himself a terrific fight in shape that night, was a hell of a fighter .. Maybe Bowe ..

 

I don't think he beats any of them in their respective primes. Same goes for the 70s champs.

He was a very good fighter, hard to see him as a Great. But, to be fair, that went for the vast majority of the ABC champs of the 80s. Nobody really stood out except Holmes and Iron Mike.

 

I think Pink has the best chance against Holyfield. A lot of 80's heavies give Holyfield hell and Pink, at his peak, was one of the best in a deep pocketed and talent laden division. They just lost focus and couldn't contain discipline after winning the belt. It's like all they wanted to do was become champion.

Holmes would be a tactical battle of wills. Another tremendous 80's fight that never materialized, and most likely my favorite 80's heavyweight bout that didn't go down.

Bowe would be the most dangerous.

 

Holyfields the worst of these three and Holyfield easily beat Thomas. This was early enough where we can't attribute that outcome to Pinklon being washed either.

 

I have Pinklon as the third best alphabet HW champ of the decade behind Tucker and Witherspoon. While Pinklon beat Witherspoon in terms of hypothetical fights with third parties Witherspoon offers a lot more that makes you think he could win.

If Pinklon hadn't fought Holyfield I would probably be saying Pinklon had a decent shot of beating Holyfield because there are not many top HWs Holyfield could destroy. But Thomas did fight Holyfield and given Thomas was only 30 and had not looked that bad against Tyson I don't think we can discount that result.

 

You're right, we can't discount their actual bout. However...

Pink from Tyson to Holyfield fell off hard. Almost night and day. He looked bad, was slower, fatter, older and it was the longest layoff between fights in his career (18 months). He may have been 30 but he looked 50. Holyfield was on his way up - Pink was on his way down.

Holyfield was obviously a factor in Pink looking so bad. But Pink could box and was an intelligent guy who could control a fight entirely by his hammer of a jab. It wouldn't be enough against someone the caliber of Holyfield but Pink had underrated power and speed and was dishing out punishment to large heavyweights.

Holyfield would have to rely on brawling, activity and tenacity because Pink could settle in, slow the pace and become a bit boring. If Pink can slow the pace and control the bout and nullify the brawling down the stretch it could sway the judges.

Holy wasn't elusive enough and Pink had a tremendous chin as well. Heart and tremendous will to win is always difficult to overcome. I just believe Pink's skillset and ring generalship would prove too much.

Thomas W 12 Holyfield 115-113

Pink is highly underrated.

 

Thomas was thoroughly diminished by the time of the Holyfield fight and it had nothing to do with age. He had wrecked his body due to years of heroine abuse. Watch the fight. He looked terrible.

 

Thomas would give Holmes alot of problems even in his prime, Thomas had a jab to compete with Holmes and Holmes did sometimes struggle against a good jab despite himself having an ATG jab. Thomas also has a rock solid chin and a pretty powerful right hand which Holmes could be suspect to. I do see Holmes still winning the fight but the fact he wouldn't be able to stop the very durable Thomas means he would be in for a hard nights work with that ram rod jab.

Holmes wins between 115-113-116-112.

Bowe himself had trouble with fighters with good jabs or fighters who fought him at range so i see Thomas giving Bowe problems also. The difference is Bowe has a much better inside game than Holmes, and i think once Bowe does find a way past the jab and starts unloading on the inside he can separate himself from Thomas.

I think Holyfield's combination punching and much more varied offence would be a bit too much for the more basic Thomas, it goes the distance but and Thomas has his moments but i see Holyfield winning a clear decision.

 

I consider Holyfield the most overrated fighter in the history of HW boxing. Holyfield could beat anyone but if he dominated a fighter that doesn't bode well for H2H comparisons. Thats why I'm having a hard time looking past it though you and Magoo are probably right and Thomas wasn't himself.

If the fight didn't happen I'd probably pick Pinklon to win by a close decision too. Certainly see where you're coming from.

 

No but he doesn't disgrace himself either.

 

Holmes vs. Thomas would have been another Holmes vs. Norton. An instant classic. Wish it had gone down.

 

He's not beating absolute prime Holmes,

But I'd Favor him over 1984 Holmes when they concurrently held titles. Holmes was slipping since at least the very tough Witherspoon fight in mid 1983.