So basically, could the Jones that stepped up to the heavy s against Ruiz, pull off a Spinks and beat Holmes.. Twice?? Not sure he could actually beat Larry in the rematch but maybe??
THAT version of Holmes, then yes I think it's perfectly possible. Larry looked awful in the first fight against Spinks. He looked better in the rematch (and in my opinion won it narrowly) but still a faded force. I could see Jones boxing his way to a couple of safety-first points wins in that scenario.
He'd be definitely safety first. I see him stealing a points win in the first one but Holmes getting his revenge and his title back in the rematch. Unless the judges decide otherwise.
Larry will land on Roy and land more in the rematch. Larry Holmes is not John Ruiz. John Ruiz was atrocious to be honest and Holmes is a top ten heavyweight of all time in a lot of peoples books. Larry had all the veteran tricks and would be too much for Roy.
As one talented poster pointed out, John Ruiz is no Larry Holmes, Ruiz is a footnote just like the other Ruiz, Andy. A prime Larry Holmes would make it very difficult for Roy Jones Jr to penetrate with his array of punches, Holmes left jab and lateral movement would ensure that. Michael Spinks fought a Larry Holmes that was faded as a 3 year pair of blue denims, back in 1985. Jones would have occasional success but not enough to make Larry respect him. Larry stops Jones late, TKO 11, after Roy starts to catch Larry's hard right hands. Holmes is a natural heavyweight, Jones is perfect at 175 lbs. There should be no need for a rerun, or should I say rematch.
Not really. RJJ was a phenom in his prime, but Holmes ain't your average Joe, he's among the best HWs that ever laced them gloves. So no, as good as Roy was, this is too much of a stretch for him, a hill he ain't gonna climb.
RJJ would have been stopped twice. So would Michael Spinks, had the fights happened a few years earlier.
