If instead of facing Carl Williams ,Holmes had faced Buster Douglas instead? Good enough to take the old champs title ?..or another Tucker style title loss for James ?
Holmes wasn`t as good as Tucker from 85-88, Larry was really slowing down by 85 and Tucker was far better v Tyson in `87 than Holmes was in `88, so that could give some clue as to what would of happened, but Buster was odd and lost to a couple of bums via not training.
If Buster showed up determined and in top shape he'd have a chance. Over 15 he has plenty of time to tire and opt out tho so he'd want to be in top condition. If you were betting your life you'd back Holmes mental strength, determination and stamina to get the better of Douglas at this point. Douglas was still quite a bit green as well.
Wow! This is a really interesting concept! I read an interview with Buster. He totally loved Holmes. Was a real fan of Larry. Totally respected him where as Tyson whom he knew from a few cards he’d been on had annoyed him. By comparison to Larry, Buster saw Tyson as a young upstart. I can’t decide if respecting Holmes might take away Busters edge or if it would have motivated him. Either way I suspect Buster still needs a career best effortto beat Larry. Can you count on that?
That's the problem with this Douglas, still green and slightly inexperienced. Holmes was sliding here but he had those years and fight s behind him to help . But I think he d show Larry sign's of how good he could be ,probably rattling him on more than one occasion.
That's interesting what he says about Larry. Like u say it could go either way .Not sure can rely on him to put on a career Best effort at this stage. Perhaps he could .Can u imagine Douglas at his very best and against a ageing Holmes, perhaps taking Buster lightly ? Could be spinks 1 all over again.
For sure. Holmes would have some rough moments, Douglas is a big talent. Holmes would beat him mentally and with condition and heart i think at this stage.
That's the clincher ,if things started getting rough and going against Buster ,Holmes would turn it in to a war .Holmes could come back but could James ?.At this stage I'd have to say doubtful .
When you think about it, Williams was less experienced than Douglas would have been that year. Douglas potentially had all of the same tools to trouble Larry. Only mark against Douglas at that point was the way he imploded come round 11 against Tucker not that many fights into the future of this point. But I still love the way Douglas fought up until that point. With hindsight I have always believed the best fighters of what became the Tyson era actually were Douglas, Williams, Tucker and Tyson. We just didn’t know it. It wasn’t Larry,Spinks, Biggs, Thomas, Tubbs and Bruno that’s for sure.
That's the problem with Buster, its having faith in himself. He could well have been beating Larry on every round, but it may all fall to pieces. He had the talent to do just as good as William s against Larry if not better ,but that piece of a boxers mind that makes him fight through adversity could be lacking at time's.
