With regards to sparring in preparation for the Tyson fight, according to an article in Sports Illustrated: "Holmes stands, stretches briefly to loosen his muscles, yawns and, sighing, walks slowly out into the gym, where he permits former WBC cruiser-weight champion Bernard Benton, a Tyson-like 5'10", 196-pound sparring partner with a 19-5 record, to bang at him almost without answer. He works on his lateral movement—a must against Tyson—and his defense. Only during the last 45 seconds of a three-round session does he display the swift, hard jab that is his trademark. "He knows what he's doing," says Benton. "He holds you off, pushes you, confuses you and then whacks you with those right hands. But that's Larry Holmes."
Funny that you made a thread about this broadcast because I was just searching Youtube for this exact same broadcast at the exact same time you posted. Synchronicity is the substance to being on the right path in life. There's a Youtuber named Sterling Westcott or something close to that who uploaded tons of fight broadcasts. Gotta love the guy for doing that. He hasn't uploaded anything new or recent. So let's everyone write in to Sterling to keep uploading those fight broadcasts!! EDIT: Oh yeah, P.S. - - Tyson ALWAYS beats Holmes... Sincerely, Sangria the Bocaton Bleeder
Swag, I was just the same. For about ten seconds the old Holmes came back.. But then reality kicked in!
What went into those classic HBO telecasts, compared to today. Man today's telecasts can't hold a candle to this. It is so different today. Sports were covered and presented so differently than in the good old days. Watching the lead up to this match. What we've gone through with the pandemic and no fans, after HBO left the sport a few years back, these networks today just can't set the stage to a main event anymore. Everything's like so hallow compared to this. Even like the lighting in the arena, and the way Larry Merchant fades into the picture around the 10 minute mark in the video, the way the ring is lit with the crowd in the dark. The way HBO in particular used to build to a Main Event, it was like you were watching the only thing you cared about, nothing else mattered but the fight you were watching. They made it look so exciting, the build up. Everything was done so well and professional but with a genuine excitement to it all. Man I miss those days just from a sports watching perspective. Not just boxing but practically any sport. Today with no HBO, with no fans, everything about sports is so hollow. It's a shame that we can't re-create this kind of environment today the way these classic Main Events used to look and feel like!
Looking back, and looking at it again - I think it's the only time I've seen Holmes enter the ring not looking confident. His gaze, intensity whatever, wasn't there. Maybe it was the Tyson aura of that time, maybe it was the ring rust, or just the realization of age, but he didn't look himself - at least compared to before, then afterwards when he was making a more measured, planned comeback fighting a few times before challenging Evander for the title. He had more swagger in the fights that followed.
Larry was actually 38. Hey if folks want to believe Mike Tyson, who got knocked silly by Buster Douglas in his prime, could beat an Ali-beating Holmes, more power to them. As for the broadcast, I remember feeling bad because I knew Larry had been inactive for way too long to win the fight.
Lol? Holmes beating Ali? Holmes couldn't even knockout the shadow of Ali who was going through a metabolic crisis while actively suffering from a neurological disease in the ring that night . Prime Ali would school any version of Holmes. Holmes was made to look like a punching bag by Tyson when he tried for that split second to fight Mike instead of holding and extending his arms out.
Weirdest damn fight. Holmes looked terrified for the first three rounds, and just clinched and spoiled. Then in the fourth, he all of a sudden got brave, started dancing on his toes and throwing the jab, and got his ass stopped. Should have kept fighting scared.
