Evaluation of Holmes v Tyson '88

Excellent pelt for Mike. As we know, an older Holmes competed at the top of the division half a decade later and beyond. Who else ever finished any version of Holmes?

 

Prime vs 39 and Past it …. It is that simple for me

 

Holmes, for whatever reason, was NOT ready for the fight - he was known for never being intimidated by any fighter, but when he stepped into the ring that night, I saw doubt on his face for the first time in his career. He didn't want to be there - whether it was due to ring rust, Tyson's presence or a combination of both. He managed to survive on guts and guile, but that won't last 12 rounds. Even if he were better prepped physically and psychologically, he wasn't going to survive the evening. Tyson was too hot at that point of his career. Even a prime Holmes would have had problems with Tyson that night ...

 

Holmes hadn't fought in 2 years and coming off 2 losses … A little perspective here .. 39 is just not prime for any pro ahtlete

 

It's both. Holmes tho still capable even for years thereafter was only a patch on his peak self. By the same token he was still a game, wily, awkward warrior and it was an extremely impressive performance by Tyson.

 

He was 39 JT .. I can't think of a worse style matchup for Tyson than a Prime Holmes or Ali

 

I think Tyson matches up very well vs Holmes tbh. Apparently he was brought thru to beat that exact style from very early on. Both have the tools to make it awkward.

 

why is that a good matchup Tyson? Tyson was all about his timing, slip slip/bob weave to mid range so he could get off. If there was ever a fight, and a high profile one at that to expose another fighter, it was what Douglas did to Tyson. Destroyed his timing and did it with his jab and more so his lead right .. And that is Buster Douglas( very underrated jab) we are talking here. Now we get to a whole another level of Boxing skill and best jabs in history, and Ali lead right, etc. … I see Prime Holmes landing his jab on Tyson, disrupting that timing, in a very one sided fight for me ..

 

Tyson was all about getting past the jab and did it extremely well. His counters were precise and lightning. I wouldn't be getting overly hung up on the Douglas affair myself, it's pretty clear Tyson wasn't exactly in his best form or more particularly - shape. He wiped out plenty of fighters with excellent jabs prior.

Holmes definitely isn't beating Tyson in "a one sided fight". He struggled against far far lesser fighters than Mike. It's a great matchup.

 

He was barely 38, not 39, and with his style, skillset and durability was a fighter built for the long game. He beat a prime Ray Mercer 4 years later and put up a very respectable showing against prime Holyfield 5 years later. Some even thought he nipped a prime McCall 8 years later. Larry never really relied on his athleticism. He was a fighter to the core with a huge ring IQ and uber elite skillset. And no one ever spanked him like Mike did, not before, not a dozen years later.

 

Yup, I know what he did later, and he was built to last but and Prime Mike did spank him, but to think Larry in '88 was the same or close to same fighter he was in Prime is something I'm not buying ..

 

Well if you go down the road about Mike's form and shape in 1990, then it's only fair to mention that Larry was 38 years old, hadn't fought in almost 2 years, coming off 2 losses … big difference in fighting shape imo