92 Larry Holmes (Holy fight) vs Prime Deontay Wilder (2018-2020)

There's every chance of that DP. Holmes could well hang in there and nip a decision.

 

Besides the two KD's Fury outboxed him in a canter. He won almost every other round. It's a fight like this that makes one think Holmes had a chance at winning.

 

Agreed Wilder had two good chances to finish off Fury once against an out of shape Fury and failed to do it.

Whilst Wilder has good single punch power he's not proven at being able to stop top competition. And major reason why he couldn't finish off Fury is due to not having the boxing iq or prowess of some of the better finishers in Heavyweight division like Lewis, Foreman, Tyson, Louis, etc.

 

Bang on!!!! I remember a point in the Ortiz fights where he had him hurt, went guns blazing, didn't get him and gassed a bit. Tho he had enormous single punch power he was a bit like Shavers and struggled to finish off better and more awkward fighters. These guys didn't go with one punch. I mean, without looking again, i think Fury was back right into him in a minute flat? Back on top that fast after a KD like THAT?

 

Holmes beat 1 ranked fighter during his comeback.

Wilder beat 3 and drew w a h2h ATG at heavyweight.

If only McCall could've shown Frank Bruno his resume before he got outpointed.

 

Honestly, if we're talking about the 1992 version of Larry Holmes, the one that fought Holyfield, against prime Deontay Wilder (2018-2020), I think Wilder wins, probably by knockout.

I say that with huge respect to Holmes. Even in '92, he was still very smart, had one of the best jabs ever and his defensive skills were still solid. He made a young, prime Holyfield work really hard for that win. Larry’s ring IQ is off the charts and you could tell he hadn't forgotten how to fight, but physically, he just wasn’t the same guy he was in the late 70s or early 80s. He was 42 years old, slower, not as mobile and couldn't keep up the same work rate.

Meanwhile, Wilder in his prime was far from perfect, his fundamentals were messy, his footwork wasn't great and a skilled boxer could definitely outpoint him if they could avoid the right hand. But the problem here is Holmes at 42 wouldn’t have the speed, stamina, or reflexes to stay away from Wilder’s power for a full 12 rounds. Wilder’s athleticism, reach and pure one-punch KO ability would eventually catch up with him.

Holmes would probably outbox him early on. I could easily see Larry frustrating Wilder with his jab and head movement for the first few rounds. Wilder tends to get wild and desperate when he’s getting outboxed and that could actually open opportunities for Holmes. But over time, Holmes’ slower legs and reduced reactions would become a bigger problem. Wilder doesn’t have to win rounds, he just needs that one clean shot. And against a 42-year-old, the odds are pretty high that he lands it eventually.

If I had to guess, I’d say Wilder gets him out of there somewhere between rounds 5 and 8. Not because Wilder is the better boxer, he’s absolutely not, but because Father Time is undefeated and a younger, faster, massively powerful fighter would be too much for an ageing Holmes to fend off forever.

If it was prime Holmes from 1978-1982? Totally different story. That Holmes would school Wilder and probably beat him either by wide decision or maybe even a late TKO. But 1992 Holmes? It's a bad style and age matchup for him.

Just my two cents.

 

Who's on about Holmes ? I'm on about you suggesting Ortiz is much better than McCall and anyone who thinks otherwise is "insane" according to you.

There's nothing on Ortiz's resume to suggest he's better than McCall as I said baseless opinion.

Let me you correct you there "Wilder got a gift draw vs Fury that most felt he lost".

And since when is Fury an ATG H2H ? He's been down like 10 times in his career and has looked beatable in a handful of fights and against some below par opposition like Wallin, Ngannou, despite hardly fighting any ranked contenders.

 

It was simply a humerous attempt to illustrate the gulf in class and ability between the two fighters. I will try harder in future x

 

One of my more confident fight picks/predictions was Wilder over old, too old, Ortiz. That was like another cherry pick for Wilder.

I don't think that Fury is an ATG/H2H.

 

Holmes was laying on the ropes a lot at that point. I don't think that's a good way to fight againt Wilder.