Well, Tyson was in a mission to avenge his idol, Ali. Legend says that after Holmes beat the heck out of Ali, he got a call from Cus D'Amato saying his young protégée wanted to tell him something. That protégée was Tyson and reputedly told Ali that someday he was going to make Larry pay dearly for beating his idol.
To just put forward the other side of the argument: 35 was pretty old before the big turnover in training methods that happened at the tail end of Holmes's reign. (Which, ironically, Spinks used rather than Larry.) Charles was shot by age 35. Rocky was retired. Ali had severely declined by 35. Patterson had gone down to maybe the third or fourth best heavyweight in the world at that age. Frazier was done. Louis was still good, but far from the machine he'd been. Etc.
And Holmes was 38 and 18 months rusty... I realize how many times that's come up. But I don't mind reiterating. Though we could also make excuses for Mike, Buster Douglas was a junior league 1980 Holmes that night in Tokyo.
Buster was a different critter from Holmes, IMO. There were some similarities, and Holmes may have been better overall, but there were significant differences.
Absolutely. But I'm not sure how different Holmes' tactics would have been had he faced the prime Tyson instead of, say, Leon Spinks. Jab, try to get the right in as much as possible, hold whenever Mike gets too close... Get him drunk then mug him. Might get knocked down along the way. Same thing as Buster.
Only Tyson I would favor slightly. Holmes in prime form may get to Mike but it could go either way IMO. Lennox Lewis has a decent chance with his size, power and skilset. Holmes is still big enough and quicker than Lewis. There's a strong possibility that Holmes's jab carries the day. Fury couldn't spar with a prime Holmes. He would sent home for not giving the champion good work. They have punching bags in the corner. Holmes cuts Vitali with those razor blades. Wlad gets TKOd after going into deep water.. I can't see anyone else doing it.
Fury would be in trouble vs a prime Holmes. Too much quickness, coordination and skill from Larry. Tyson couldn't be safe on the outside. As you stated he couldn't avoid Wilder's telegraphed right hand all the time Holmes he'll never see coming. Fury would look like a 4 round kid.
Correct. This poster has an agenda against Holmes (presumably for his comments on Marciano, his favorite fighter). "Only" 35 was beyond pathetic as you noted. Tyson, Ali, Frazier, Charles, Marciano, Dempsey, Patterson, and many other greats were all either retired, in severe decline, or flat out shot by that age. Criticizing Holmes for losing at "only" 35 is flat out ridiculous. Especially when pretty much everyone you and I named with the obvious exception of Marciano had their 0 taken long before 35.
