78 to 82 Holmes a Nightmare for Tyson

It's Tyson at his best for me.

Tyson can't be boiled down to one fight against Douglas just as Holmes can't be boiled down to being shockingly hurt against Shavers and Snipes, of all people. Sure, he came back to win but he wouldn't have against any sort of high class finisher.

Tyson was manufactured to take advantage of Holmes flaws and at his finest with his original gang I'd back him to do just that. Both would utilize the same tactics they employed when they actually did fight, one peak and one faded or not. Holmes would be trying to scoot around the ring with lateral movement while snapping out jabs, Tyson would be slipping those jabs and trying to counter. He'd be looking particularly hard for the big right hand over the lowered Holmes left hand but he'd be chasing that body too, as he did when they fought.

Holmes relied a lot on rhythm and Tysons ability to slip jabs and counter hard would affect that. Holmes would tie him up whenever he could but he wouldn't be able to bully him in clinches. Holmes didn't blow too many houses over without a fair bit of huffing and puffing first and he'd be no chance of stopping Tyson early. He was also prone to (and quite good at, but not good enough in this one) exchanges and winging wildly and at various times he'd have to plant his feet and fight Tyson off.

I could see a similar result to what we saw with Holmes lasting a bit longer and having some more offensive success. Holmes would certainly have his moments, he's too good not to but I'd back Tyson to hurt him badly a couple of times and finish him. Holmes was still an awkward customer to get out of there when they fought, even if aged, and he was never stopped in his life excepting by Tyson. Even post Tyson he was hard to pin, even for Holyfield.

Holmes has some solid intangibles over Tyson, handling adversity, gutting it out, heart, determination...........i just don't think it would go deep enough for these to play a big enough part. Sure, Tucker and Bonecrusher lasted the distance but Holmes was a winning fighter not one who was happy to play survival and lose at the final bell. He wouldn't be content to let round after round go. He'd go for it, he'd take risks to win, he'd lay it all on the line and that would be the difference.

 

So, by your logic, Jesse Ferguson was in Douglas's league and Mike Tyson wasn't.

I meant that Buster didn't win a title in eight years of fighting in the 1980s: 1982-1989. Tyson did it in his second year of career and then won nine fights. How do you explain the fact that a better boxer, fighting in a higher league, didn't do even half as well as a worse boxer?

 

Agree 100%!

This would be a GREAT matchup--another "pay top dollar" to see live hypothetical bouts. I think Holmes piston-like jab, ring savvy, stamina, and sturdy chin would make the difference--TKO for Holmes in 11-12 tough rounds.

 

I don't think it's 11-4 and I can't remember if it's at the time they fought or not. It's been a while and it took a while to find the stats so when I have time I'll get back to you.

 

I checked it a few weeks ago when I was doing my list Top 10 Greatest HWs Ever, but I'm ready to be corrected if I'm wrong.

Berbick
Smith
Thomas
Tucker
Biggs
Spinks
Williams
Buster (L)
Ruddock
Ruddock
Bruno
Seldon
Holyfield (L)
Holyfield (L)
Lewis (L)

Tubbs and Holmes weren't rated when Mike fought them.

 

You're clueless.

 

The division was not terrible. Tyson was so good that it made it look terrible.

Horse****. That just shows a boxer isn't good enough (to dominate) in the first place.

 

Peak Tyson > any HW in boxing history.

 

Seconded.

Holmes fought nothing like Douglas. Douglas had an 84 inch reach whole Larry was around 79 inches if I recall correctly.

Douglas also used his uppercut frequently while Larry used it more as a surprise weapon.

I also think Douglas was a more fluent and better combination puncher than Holmes.

 

Guy went from peak to crawling around on the floor with his mouthpiece in backward hanging out like a puppy with a bone practically overnight then, lol.

Scientists should study this phenomenon to see how a guy in his prime fell so far so fast. Papers could be written in medical journals.

(This is the part where you hit ‘reply’ and tell me all about poor Mikey’s excuses.)

 

The same thing happened to Louis, Lewis, Wlad (pre prime), and Ali (saved by the bell).

Another thing that these guys have in common with Mike is that they all rank above Larry.

 

Show me examples where these guys were peak and then a few months later were getting the stuffing beat out of them … not a ‘got caught by a big punch’ like Lewis but from hero to zero — dominant all-timer to one fight later getting dominated bell to bell (you’re allowed a one-punch respite from the domination just like Mike got).

 

That creaking noise is the goalposts creeping farther away.

 

Your an idiot always have been