Holmes looked awful against Tyson

Well who is Tysons best victory then? Also, Holmes (at 100% would be "better than any opposition" Tyson had faced. It goes both ways, Tysons best single win is no better than Holmes, is it?

 

Tyson was always a big time folder when faced with an accurate jab and an opponent with resolve. Holmes in his prime was better than anyone Tyson ever faced and better than all the people he lost to. Tyson had a habit of mentally imploding in fights in which he couldn't blow his opponent out early. Considering Tucker took him the distance I'm sure Holmes would have done the same but won enough rounds along the way.

 

But that still doesn't really get into the fact that prime Tyson was probably better than anybody Holmes faced during his prime. Holmes, old or not, got badly beaten by Tyson. The same thing might have happened if prime Holmes faced prime Tyson. Tyson was different than any fighter prime Holmes had faced.

 

And the Holmes that actually fought Tyson proved none of this. How can you be so certain a younger Holmes would have done any better?

A prime Tyson was better than anybody Holmes ever faced in his prime. I'm actually being serious with that one.... and I don't care much for Tyson.

 

Neither did Tyson and before anyone says I'm a hater Tyson is one of my all time favourites.

 

You don't know it would have been much different any more than I do... it's just speculation. To look at this in a different way, what fighters did Holmes ever face in his prime that were like Tyson? In fact, if the truth be told, Holmes likely would have ducked any person that even came close to a prime Tyson. About the only reason Holmes ever faced Tyson is because he wanted a big pay check, and had nothing to lose himself.

 

glad you're not a Tyson hater... I've never thought much of him!

 

Holmes hadn't even trained properly for the fight.

The Ali that fought Holmes didn't prove anything either.

The Tyson that lost to Danny Williams didn't prove anything either.

The Holmes that fought Mercer was at least prepared properly. He'd have done better than the one who faced Tyson.

Tyson knocked people out, that was his style, that's how he won his fights. It looks sensational and dramatic but it doesn't mean he'd have done it to a young Holmes when he couldn't do it to Mitch Green, Tony Tucker, Bonecrusher, or Douglas, etc... He might have but looking at Tyson's career and then Holmes' I don't think that a scenario in which Holmes wins is far-fetched at all. In fact I think it's the more likely outcome.

 

as a fighter or in general?

 

Yes, Larry Holmes was vulnerable to right hands. He was decked by Shavers and Snipes. However, you have to remember that Larry was winning virtually every round against both and he was lulled into a bit of carelessness ala Tyson-Douglas when Mike dropped Buster him with an uppercut. Both Douglas and Holmes would go on to dominate the ensuing rounds and stop their opponents. If Larry fought Tyson in his prime he would have been much more tactful and cautious from the get-go, but without sacrificing offense. I see prime Holmes winning a clear points victory over prime Tyson.

 

I don't think Holmes was THAT bad, but for me he fought all wrong. The way he fought against Evander and Mercer, where his legs didn't betray him and he could counter was probably the way to go...then again Tyson was sublime around this period, so it probably would have ended early regardless.

 

So you write off the reverse? That doesn't count?

And if Rocky Marciano was still alive and took on say, a Sonny Liston under the same scenario as Holmes did Tyson he too would have been beaten. It's called the passing of the torch. Holmes did it to Ali, Rocky to Louis etc etc. It happens. Ali got beaten by Berbick when old, at his peak would it go this way?

And it might not have. Indeed the same thing may have happened as per Tyson - Douglas. This is a pick'em affair.

And Holmes too from any fighter Tyson faced.