80s Tyson vs 80s Holmes

Ney · Jun 29, 2024

Anubis said: ↑

Holmes would've taken Tyson very seriously. But Mike was 5'10" if that, and had a 70 inch reach, with a peek-a-boo stance. Bonecrusher showed how easily Mike got frustrated by clinching, and an unprepared and rusty Larry had some success with that in their actual bout, lasting 45 seconds between the second and third knockdowns and coming within a ropes caught right uppercut and five seconds from surviving round four.

Snipes was 6'2" and never provided any indication he could punch like that, yet the knockdown round was the only one he won over Holmes. Evangelista said Renaldo was the hardest puncher he faced, and Snipes did drop the durable Berbick, the only guy to do that other than Mercado and Tyson. The long armed Shavers caught Larry once in 23 rounds and it was the only round Earnie won between them. (Nobody else dominated prime Shavers over multiple rounds like this.)

Nobody of Tyson's height and reach took on Homes from Shavers I until Mike himself. Either Tyson's not getting close enough, or he gets clinched if he does. And Larry did have that experience of sparring Frazier, a far greater and tougher fighter. (Mike relied too often on that huge shot, and he didn't have that level of power, being naturally more attrition oriented.) Again, finishing Holmes off when they did square off wasn't that easy for him, and he was somewhat lucky he did before round four ended.

Peak for peak, he's not surprising Larry, will have trouble getting close enough with his lack of height and reach, Holmes has too many survival skills and recuperative powers if Tyson does manage to catch him, then, Mike has to also get past what many here have called the greatest jab of all time, regardless of weight.

Nor was pre incarceration Tyson some kind of irresistible force, as Tillis, Blood Green, Bonecrusher, a one armed Tucker, Douglas or Ruddock demonstrated. (and Ruddock I was a premature BS stoppage, as Ruddock II proved).

Tyson's not somehow magically winning if he manages to reach the final bell. And there's no solid evidence he stops Larry aside from the situation where they actually did square off, with Mike at his peak and a rusty Holmes trying to box on his toes as if he was still in his 20's and early 30's. (Even then, remember that Larry actually did win two of the first three rounds against one of the two fastest starting HW Champions in history at his very peak.)

Following Tyson-Tillis and Tyson-Green, pundits were comparing Mike's power to Frazier's, not Foreman's or Lyle's, a more sober assessment validated by the issues he had with Bonecrusher, a one armed Tucker, Douglas and Ruddock 2X. (And if Tucker could suddenly rally from way behind to suddenly stop Buster, a subpar Tyson would've done it if all the mythology and mystique surrounding him was truly as valid as his fanboys like to claim.)

Favoring peak Tyson over peak Holmes means rationalizing that Mike had GOAT finishing ability like peak Louis or peak Liston if he did get Larry in trouble. Yet again, Holmes got through 45 seconds and within five seconds and a caught right uppercut of reaching round five. (Even then, from ringside, Michael Spinks yelled at him when round four began, "What are you doing? CONCENTRATE!!!")

Straight up, a competition active Larry at 42 did do better against Holyfield (coming off Mercer) than a post incarceration Tyson later would at age 30 (in a bout Mike was heavily favored to win and was defending Champion) and still 30 again. You want to spout about the actual bout Holmes and Tyson had in Mike's favor for prime for prime, then spout about their respective performances against Evander much closer together in time and activity, with Tyson a dozen years younger than Larry.
Click to expand...

45 seconds is a credible survival period? C’mon.

Anubis · Jun 29, 2024

Ney said: ↑

45 seconds is a credible survival period? C’mon.
Click to expand...

Watch late career Duran finish off Roni Martinez within the final few seconds of round . That's how it's done. Taking 45 seconds to halt peak Holmes just isn't happening.

Ney · Jun 29, 2024

I don’t see how it’s meaningful that Holmes lasted 45 seconds. That’s extremely hard marking on Tyson.

robert ungurean · Jun 29, 2024

80-81 Holmes for me

AntonioMartin1 · Jun 30, 2024

ikrasevic said: ↑

80s belong to Tyson as champion. What Tyson did in the second half of the 80s will continue to impress boxing connoisseurs for a long time to come.
Prime Holmes never fought someone like 1988 Mike Tyson. Norton, Shavers and others are not at the level of 1988 Mike Tyson.
Peak Vs. peak also Tyson wins.
Click to expand...

Late 80s was Tyson.

Early 80s was Holmes by far. Mike Weaver, the WBA champion from 1980 to 1982 and a decent champ at that was beaten by Holmes.

Fergy · Jun 30, 2024

Holmes has the better career for the decade, if they'd fought in prime then I lean slightly to Tyson.

Log in or Sign up

80s Tyson vs 80s Holmes

Tyson Vs Larry

Tyson

Larry

Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

Anubis Boxing Addict

Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

Log in or Sign up

Forums

80s Tyson vs 80s Holmes

Tyson Vs Larry

Tyson

Larry

Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

Anubis Boxing Addict

Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

Fergy Walking Dead Full Member