Larry Holmes (1992) Vs Floyd Patterson (1967)

This is a whacky, whacky take. No Patterson all 190-ish lbs of him is not dropping Larry Holmes multiple times (didn’t only Mike Tyson do that?) because Ray Mercer (up to 40lbs heavier) managed to stun him a little bit he wasn’t in danger in either that fight or the Holyfield one was he? (I think one moment in the RM one can you link it?) - Benton was begging Holyfield not to come to Holmes or follow him to the ropes because he wasn’t able to budge his defence … Patterson is a tiny guy outweighed by 40lbs against Holmes here… did you see the size difference between him and Ali he wasn’t built for real HW’s, Holmes if he got physical with him the way he did with Spinks in the opening of Spinks 2 he’d stop him, LH doesn’t need to hit as hard as Ingo or Liston he just needs to hit ol FP accurately which he was very cable of - we have no idea how Patterson would react to Holmes’s punches because his size was obsolete when LH reigned… Patterson would run straight to him in that square way and eat an uppercut like a chump (jk I love FP) and go down Marvis Frazier style. FP leaned in the same way, Brutal beating to imagine… see the Ossie Ocassio fight?

 

@SixesAndSevens he took Lennox Lewis the distance and many other good swatters… much bigger guy then Patterson with a real chin - MAN Holmes put it on him. Pop pop pop - down goes Patterson

This content is protected

 

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one old mate. Holmes was in the best shape possible in the rematch and many people scored the fight for him. I can't see how he's better 6 or so years later at 43 years old or so.

Even as he was heavily declining Holmes still big strong guys like Bey and Smith. Williams boxed him and quite a few thought he won. Spinks was very slick, incredibly resourceful and a guy that knew how to win. I'd take him handily over 92 Holmes. To each their own.

 

90s version of Holmes sat on the ropes in his notable performances vs Mercer, Holyfield, that wouldn't work vs a slick awkward fighter like Spinks.

I don't see how an even older version of Holmes who was heavier, slower, with even worse legs is going to be more successful vs Spinks.

 

That’s true, against Spinks Larry was very physical and less conservative he was mean and I think he’d treat Floyd with the same kinda “respect” or lack of.

 

Yup, but I was replying to your point about the gulf in ability between Spinks and Mercer. Have a wonderful day man, Px

 

Gotta go with Larry here. He would definitely deposit Floyd on his fanny, probably more than once.

And this version of Patterson went 2-1-1 in 1967. The two wins were against guys with a combined 39-36-1 records and he was down four times in non-winning efforts against Jerry Quarry.

Larry, even at this stage, has the best jab Floyd has seen outside of Sonny Liston. I don’t see Holmes having any problem getting the jab going and controlling the fight with it. Sonny and Ali, both of whom had superior jabs, handled the Rabbit, and I think that’s the component that matters most here.

Floyd does well in some spurts but once Larry gets the jab going, he’s going to control the fight. Then the right hand comes into play … more so imo when he begins to lure Patterson to him on the ropes.

Larry is too crafty here and has the weapon that separates these two with the big stick.

Holmes UD 12 (or 15) with a chance for a stoppage from mid-rounds on.

 

I made a thread dedicated to exactly this topic -- '92 Holmes vs '85 Spinks. I put the same position forth that you did -- I thought (and still think) that he'd win. By '85, he was shopworn and seemed to have lost his killer instinct. He got it back in '92, seemed to have healed up physically, and had adapted his style to being older. He never got his legs back (not that he really had them by 85 anyway), but his hand speed never really degraded. Even as a grandpa against Butterbean, his 1-2 was snappy and quick.

Anyway, the forum did not agree with me.