Maybe, but Holmes has gone up against a better quality of challenger, and more brutal trenchwars in doing so.
Irrelevant. We've seen Wlad fight through cuts, injuries, and knockdowns. His heart has never been in question, but his stamina on the otherhand has failed him.
Whilst i agree that the aggressive approach is definitely warranted against Wlad, i'm not too quick to jump in your boat in terms of your comparison of Holmes to Byrd to be honest. Holmes was much more aggressive than that, even as a boxer, he was following up his jab with bad intentions throughout his career. Given he wasn't a Frazier, but he always took it to his opponents behind the jab, he is the definition of a fine boxer imo. For me a confident fighter with fast heavy hands aka Corey Sanders is going to test Wlad's chin. Holmes has them good hands, the only question is whether he can hurt Wlad, as you say he is smaller so i'm guessing it's not a given that he can do. If it does pan out to be a pure backfoot boxing match-up as you say, Holmes is a better boxer for me, has much better movement and is more willing to be aggressive when it counts. I don't see Wlad winning at all personally, no disrespect to him.
I agree fully that it is going to be a tough match for both me, i wouldn't dispute that in a million years, how could it be easy for Holmes? I stick by my statement that it's no contest in the heart department though. Ok maybe 'will to win' is the phrase i was looking for, no contest for me.,
A fair response. And to clearify, I wouldn't favor Wlad to win either. But I just don't see this as being an easy fight for Holmes, the way that some have declared.
I agree fully, i can't see it being easy. I'm not dismissive like that myself. They're going to box, and Wlad as you say, is a fine boxer.
Vlad`s jab is not shot with the snap of Holmes, and I don`t even think of it as heavy as Holmes. Holmes dominated with his and used it to set up his arsenal of punches, and try for the KO win. Take a good look at the speed on Holmes `dog` (his nickname for his jab) against Cooney. Vlad`s is not compareable in speed to that. The only pro trainer who would disagree would be Emanuel Steward, who happens to train Vlad. As for who was the better fighter ??? Lets get serious, look at who Holmes fought and beat in his career. Now look at the STOPPAGE losses that Vlad has had. Holmes only was stopped ONCE and that after a l o n g layoff that he wasn`t in great shape for. And he was past his prime...I can assure, that when Vlad finally hangs them up, the talk will NOT go up of how Vlad had THE best jab in heavy weight history... Holmes, argueably does...
Yeah like you're a big knowledgable guy who belongs in classic with your obviously unbiased opinions on the Klits :rofl:rofl:rofl Just log off and shut the **** up, you sack swinging piece of ****.
I posted this matchup in General and it is currently 25-24 to Wlad. Personally I favour Holmes by UD, maybe a late cuts stoppage. The thing that really swings it for me is that Holmes was a very skilled boxer AND had great brawling ability, great heart and will to win when in danger in the ring, and a great chin. Wlad on the other hand, although he is clearly skilled and physically very imposing, cannot brawl at all, he has been not just beaten but *destroyed* 3 times by mediocre contenders, his chin is suspect, and he has been shown to fold under pressure. When the chips are down, you can rely on Holmes to give his opponent hell, even old Larry in the Tyson fight put up a decent effort against a prime hard-punching ATG. You can't rely on Wlad in the same situations. Holmes always has a plan B, when Wlad's plan A doesn't work, he has nothing to fall back on.