If counting cruiserweight as heavyweight. who has better resume: Usyk or Holmes?

Given Usyk's cruiserweight opponents were a similar size to many of Holmes's opponents, who has the better resume?

Holmes:

1. Witherspoon
2. Norton
3. Mercer
4. Cooney
5. Shavers 1
6. Shavers 2
7. Weaver 1
8. Berbick

Usyk:

1. Fury 1
2. Joshua 2
3. Breidis
4. Joshua 1
5. Fury 2
6. Dubois
7. Hunter
8. Gassiev

 

I’ll say I rank the two wins over Fury pretty highly. The Fury who faced Usyk either time would be a favorite over every single guy Holmes beat, except maybe Norton? And what a contest of awkward a fight between Norton and Fury would be, a twitchy crab fighting a slippery octopus.

doesn’t necessarily give Usyk the better resume. But worth pointing out.

 

Holmes for me.

 

Larry's got like four good wins. Five if you include weaver and I don't know why you would. Heaps beat Weaver.

Witherspoon
Mercer
Cooney
Berbick

Solid wins that are not old men sliding out of the sport. Shavers on life support means nothing to me.

Also, I think it is interesting if the subject is Mayweather folks care about internationalism but basically any other topic it is thrown out the window. Either it matters when fighters fight outside of their home nation or it doesn't. Usyk did all his best work in other men's backyards. Larry eft the states like a couple of times. A handful at best.

 

To be fair, I can't remember any fight Holmes fought overseas except for the Nielsen robbery.

 

Which Heavyweight in Holmes's era could he of fought over seas ? All the top Heavyweights were American apart from Coetzee who he was going to fight but the deal fell through.

 

I think Tim and Norton would beat Fury

 

As for the thread Holmes.

Norton was better than Fury compare their form coming into their fights.

Fury almost lost to an MMA fighter and hadn't had a notable win since 2022 against Whyte which has aged poorly.

Most felt Norton beat Ali the 3rd time he also beat Young and destroyed the undefeated Bobick.

A Witherspoon who peaked vs Holmes and become a 2 time world champion after is a better H2H fighter than Joshua who's only notable win between 2020-2025 is Wallin which again has aged poorly.

As for the other names Holmes has better depth.

Cooney
Mercer
Berbick
Weaver
Shavers

Etc.

The likes of Gassiev failed at Heavyweight when he moved up I mean he lost to Wallin for crying out loud....

 

A 36 year old Fury who was coming off arguably losing to an MMA fighter would be a favourite over every guy Holmes beat ? i don't think so.

Norton---> Fury
Witherspoon---> Fury

 

People think Witherspoon and Norton would convincingly beat Fury that's interesting......

 

You're adding something that i didn't say i never said "convincingly" but i do think they would beat a 36 year old Fury yes.

 

I was actually talking about Blade 2. But he didn't say convincingly to be fair.

 

That's a bit like a Rocky fan saying "Who else should he have fought?" isn't it?

Both can be true. It can simply be an unfortunate reality when trying to compare fighters of the past. Less population, more political and economic barriers, and a smaller pool of talent are things that simply become more true the farther back in time you go.

But my point wasn't that it is important as much as sometimes it is presented as important while other times it isn't spoken to at all.

 

Whilst there may be more Heavyweights in regards to different nationalities now I'd argue the talent pool is better now in regards to Heavyweights.

Apart from Usyk I don't see any Heavyweight now who is a real stand out fighter that would be considered a superior H2H fighter than the likes of 80s Heavyweights at their best.

Alot of Heavyweights now are simply too big the 80s Heavyweights had alot more athleticism.

 

Holmes easily