His jab is slow, and he drops it each time he used it. A counter right hand would land almost at will if the opponent was sharp with it , his stance is wide, almost like a martial artist stance (karate) it means that if a fighter was close to his size and reach and had great timing they could easily follow him and time where he would be after he used his jab and retreated in a straight line. His head was at the same level at almost all times and he fights stiff. No flexibility in his waist. Their was nothing special about Klitsckos other than the poor competition he faced couldn't take advantage of some of the flaws I pointed out. He fought in a era that had "Just big men" but "Not great fighters" and he happened to be a better athlete then the fighters he faced. Just like that other premature ATG Anthony Joshua. And speaking of Joshua, where did all of his fans go? You know, the ones that were screaming off the top of the mountain about how he would destroy all fighters from the past?
This! Yeah I’m scouring these old threads looking for all the Anthony Joshua would destroy a Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali because they were just too “small “ You think Ruiz is a good counter puncher Joshua fans, check out some film on the Prime Real Deal Holyfield!!!
Balder makes a great argument for Wlad and I'd like to add a few things. Wlad struggled with guys that combined huge firepower with a great chin. Holmes has a great chin but he's not got the sort of crushing firepower that really bothered Wlad. Wlad's chin is not toilet paper either. He can take a HW shot. Wlad's biggest weakness to fast punchers is imho moot in this matchup. Who else bothered Wlad? Big movers like Tyson Fury and Jennings. Although we are talking prime versions and Wlad wasn't prime when he had those fights, fact is some fancy footwork and defensive sway might discomfit Wlad. Again ... that's not really what Larry does, and he's nowhere near the size of Fury. Holmes fought a similar kind of fight based off of the jab as Wlad. Holmes may have had a snappier jab but Wlad's was certainly more powerful, and Klitschko's hook off the jab was a serious weapon. What imo pushes the jab battle in Wlad's favour is his systematic approach to distance control. His footwork makes it difficult for an opponent to land anything on him without overcommitting. And overcommitting is when they get introduced to this: This content is protected That is Wlad's ace in the hole, the bazooka in the battlefield so to speak. He's got a huge edge in power, and he's got that thunderous right hand that he's perfected as a means to punish overambitious brawlers. And lest we forget, a much lesser technician with a good right hand than Wlad, was able to do this: This content is protected I think Wlad has to be favoured in this one.
Holmes can’t outjab klitschko, he’d try, but he wouldn’t, Wlad would win on points using his reach, it could even end up like the pulev fight with Holmes trying to box at range, but he doesn’t have anything to allow that, a fast jab, but it wouldn’t get to Wlad
Very interesting one, battle of the jabs. Ultimately whoever can dominate the jab will win if Holmes with his faster stinging jab can win, Wlad comes out of his comfort zone and exposes that kitten soft chin he loses a late tko. If Wlad with his height/reach advantage and thud of a jab or his pawing keeps Larry away it becomes a one sided UD for Wlad. I can't see Wlad getting a KO over Holmes even with his power. Holmes is adaptable and boxing smart and Wlad comes in with a plan if it works he wins if it doesn't he loses and someone as good as Holmes he's going to play it as safe as houses. Anyone saying it will be a walkover either way is bias.
1st , Jabbing isnt as much about height and reach, as it is about speed and timing. See Tyson and Qawi out jab much taller opponents with longer reaches in many fights so that's completely wrong. 2and, Holmes reach is is like a 1/2 inch shorter than Klieckoes, don't get height and reach mixted up. 3rd, If Klieckoes ever dreamed he could out jab prime Larry Holmes , he needs to wake up and apologize.....
Holmes fought Norton with a torn left biceps. The Cooney fight wasn't close. Spinks was a heavyweight in both fights 200lbs and 205lbs.Holmes was 42 years old when he clearly out boxed Mercer, the scorecards were 117-111,117-112,115-113.Holmes was nearly 45 when he fought McCall,very "selective "post on your part.
Prime Vlad by KO- too much right hand from a 6'6 250 lb boxer- Vlad much more of a complete fighter than anyone Holmes faced -Right hand Kryptonite
Klitschko irritates the living bejesus out of Holmes for the first four rounds, since Larry never liked big guys with good jabs, plus he is having trouble moving the way he wants due to Wlad's perseverant style. After that Holmes starts finding both the range for his own jab and a smoother route for his movement, now making Wlad miss way more than he lands. Klitschko gets off a couple of big right hands in the sixth and rocks Holmes mightily, but the latter is back in control before the end of the round, and Larry's right is now starting to land flush more often than not. In the 7th Wlad's left eye gets cut, bad, and Holmes goes all out for it, landing a pair of stunningly executed right hands but only staggering, not backing up, the taller man. By the 10th Wlad can't see the overhand rights, though he's still fighting gamely and, arguably, competitively. Blood sprays all over the ring with each Holmes right. In the 11th there's a flash knockdown of Wlad from a sneaky right, but the ref lets it go on after having the ring doctor check the eye. Remarkably Klitschko still has his legs, but he's getting hit a lot. In the 12th there's Wlad's blood all over both boxers and Larry is landing the right nearly at will. The ref stops the fight.
Holmes quite possibly stops Wlad as fair bit earlier. Once it all starts going Holmes' way, which I'd expect to be in the first few rounds, the slippery slope Wlad finds himself on has him tumbling down the fall line fairly quickly.
What people don't seem to pick up on is when punches are being thrown at Wlad,he shuts up shop until they cease. Holmes is quicker and will not only be firing often, he will be landing.Larry has the chin and the balls to overcome Wlad's physical assets in this fight.
Agreed, absolutely. Wlad's fine while it's going all his way, but any type of effective resistance from his opponent see's him unravel - unless he resorts to wrestling. Holmes is just too bold and smart for the chinks in Wlad's armor.
