How many times was Price KO'd as an amateur?

I may know Holmes's career better than you do. I grew up in that era, and watched his fights on live TV. I followed Holmes for years.

I don't know what happened in the Wells fight. That was never discussed in the '70s and '80s. Until a film surfaces, I have my doubts that Holmes was hurt "pretty seriously," as you allege based on hearsay.

And yes, in the Tyson fight Holmes was getting caught consistently with power punches for the first time in his pro career, really. Norton, Weaver, and Shavers hit Holmes previously, but none of them could land more than a single big bomb at a time: Holmes was too mobile and elusive for them. But Larry's elusiveness was gone by 1988, which is why Tyson connected repeatedly.

"Decreased punch resistance" is what's implied by your first post.

 

Stiverne is a devastating puncher if allowed to connect with his full power. It could be that Price's real problem was leaky defense. But this is interesting noentheless.

 

Read my posts in the thread. Either you have ignored the posts, or you have a reading comp problem. Not sure which.

 

What's your take on the footage? Again, getting rocked by Stiverne doesn't necessarily mean a guy can't take it. But we have to look closely.

 

I remember when Gerry Cooney was coming up the ranks in the very early '80s. He had devastating offensive capabilities and a killer left hook. A big, tall, hulking guy with reach, power, and an educated left. Everyone was gung ho about Cooney, expecting that he was a future champ.

But nobody seemed concerned about whether Cooney could absorb a heavy blow to the chin. None of Cooney's opponents could reach him, so nobody cared.

Ultimately, it came out that Cooney's chin was quite weak. Against Holmes and Spinks, Cooney's legs turned to jelly every time to absorbed a right.