We know Tommy fought a great fight against Foreman and won. We also know, a great puncher ( much like Tommy Morrison) in Tyson obliterated Holmes. Lets say things go a bit different and that Morrison faces that Holmes. Who takes it?
Holmes is flummoxed a bit in the beginning and relies on the jab-and-hold. Once the right starts landing with regularity the fight's over. Morrison would be stumbling, have fallen down at least once, and perhaps half-blind by the 9th at the latest.
Old Holmes moves.....jab is firing away. Tommy is confused but keeps pressing. Forget the jab,,, Holmes when in condition had those long arms. Not a textbook example of defense but he could block or sway pressure fighters. Tyson was in another category. At that point he slipped and delivered with abandon. Nevertheless---watch Tyson/Holmes again. You see how a prime, conditioned Larry could have fought better. Morrison is no Tyson. Interesting topic. No way TM outguns Larry. IMO
He also wasn't particularly known for Holmes' kryptonite, the overhand right. Cooney was imo unquestionably a harder left hook guy than Morrison and landed flush...Holmes stopped him, bad.
Meh. Old Holmes was OK but not that great. I'd take prime Holmes over Morrison any time, but I think a good version of Tommy beats up a bad version of Holmes.
I hate to say it,, but I see Tommy s speed and youth catching Holmes at ex the right time. This was the worst version of Holmes and Tommy starts fast, hurting him early. Larry never recovers from the early blasting and ends up getting stopped in 5.
I think so too, Holmes from the Tyson fight was extremely ring rusty, and Morrison against Foreman was at his best, and he would be a lot quicker than Holmes.
I might pick a 1990 larry Holmes to get the job done, since he was more prepared than the one who fought tyson. I would favor the Duke!!
Holmes by late TKO. it’s an interesting juxtaposition of Morrison being overrated because Foreman had cement feet, and Larry being underrated because he was fighting peak Tyson.
The poll has really tightened up. Foreman ate some huge shots by Tommy that would have really hurt Holmes. Tommy gun by KO