I'm talking about the holmes after the tyson loss. If he'd have faced a up and coming, undefeated tua instead of Ray mercer, what would have been the result?? Tua would have been a little more dangerous than mercer especially with the hook, he could be out boxed but would holmes be able.? I don't see holmes having a easy win, leaning back on the ropes and countering like he did against Ray. Holmes has a ATG chin but he's not in his prime here and had slowed down so could be at risk. Who takes it. 12 rounds?
I pick Holmes from Mercer and Holyfield fights over Tua. He was tricky fighter, very hard to hit clean. Holmes from McCall and Nielsen fights was older and slower, still very skilled but easier to hit.
I'll take that big guy. I see holmes out pointing tua as he did mercer, but it s a harder slog for him. Holmes takes the best punches from him but may find him stunned and holding on to avoid going over. The holmes jab is effective in the fight and tua finds him self eating it constantly. A closer decision this time for Larry.
I think Holmes would win a wide decision. I doubt he'd fight off the ropes much at all. Tua was easy to walk rings around at a moderate pace. Tua had no reach, no jab, no intelligence to his footwork. Tua might have his moments but I think he'd lose clearer than Mercer did.
Idk Mercer demonstrated that lower level fighters could beat him (Ferguson) unlike Tua. I think Tua would find a way to win but it's more of a pick em fight.
I think Tua might be glued to the end of Holmes incredible jab then he'll nail him with some crosses and uppercuts to keep him out of his comfort zone all night
Holmes jab is the key, its helped win him so many times. Tua s going to get that smacking his face noo doubts.
The punch to hit any Holmes was the right hand not the left hook. Holmes keeps moving to his right so Tua can't set himself and wins a lopsided decision. 8-4 in rounds.
Did everyone see in the title that Old Holmes not prime Holmes is the criteria? Was Larry's jab this effective in his second career? Good to see people not blindly taking Tua tho, he's a real H2H cult figure in here.
I'd pick Holmes but it wouldn't be an easy night. Tua hit harder than Mercer, had an iron chin, and Holmes wouldn't be able to lay on the ropes, like he did against Mercer. Holmes wins the decision, but retires immediately after.
Holmes at this stage of his career was a very crafty and cerebral fighter and like a old fox. His bag of tricks proved too much for Mercer and Tua no different. Holmes on pts.
I'd pick Holmes by decision, with a few scares here and there. Even the older version was very tricky to hit clean, had a great command of distance, and could effectively tie guys up on the inside as well. Tua hits like a supercharged Shavers but he doesn't have quite the same ability to make those shots count against the upper echelon, nor is he anywhere near as willing to go for broke on shots, which was a big part of what made Shavers so dangerous. If Tua doesn't have success early I believe he shuts down and ends up a walking punchbag for twelve rounds. Holmes would need to watch out for the odd explosive left hook that caught Lewis a few times and led to the Ruiz massacre, but provided he doesn't switch off I see him beating Tua quite comfortably on points. As an aside, Holmes was actually a remarkably consistent fighter, and aged very well, which is why I never agree with anyone who tries to downplay Tyson's victory over him.
The more time goes on the more exceptional holmes looks. Had a tough apprenticeship, won the title against a pumped up Norton, held it for 7 years and twenty defence s and yet came close to winning it back ten years later.
I'd pick Mercer version Holmes to beat Prime Tua and maybe Holyfield version too but anything after that is a stretch. The mid 90s Holmes that went life and death with Ferguson and was outworked by McCall would get KO'd.
