Joshua v klitschko. :comparison s to holyfield V Holmes?

I respectfully disagree with most of this.

Holmes was in basically the best shape he was going to get into. He weighed the same as he did the bout prior when he was extremely impressive (considering he was over the hill) in beating Mercer over 12 rounds.

Beating Mercer over 12 rounds and taking Holyfield on over the same however are worlds apart. Holyfield is a far better fighter than Mercer and puts a lot more pressure on via workrate and class.

Holmes both turned up and was in good shape imo. The guy was simply over the hill. He was declining as early as the Witherspoon bout let alone 9 years later. His first career was ended by a light heavyweight 7 years prior. Tho it was impressive what he was doing he wasn't a patch on what Wlad still is. Wlad only lost his title the fight before Joshua, Holmes had been gone for 3/4 of a decade.

Agree Holmes was very money orientated but he was also extremely proud and competitive. He would have dreamed of toppling Holyfield and i reckon he would have given himself some sort of chance of doing it too. It wasn't a lack of committment to legacy, he was flat out over the hill, by a mile.

I would lean toward the Tyson fight as one he was not properly in shape of prepared for. From memory he took the fight on pretty short notice and had been totally inactive for a couple of years. He definitely saw the dollar signs in that one however.

 

I think sometimes it boils down to genetics as well. Both Klits had impressive physiques and both still looked good into their later years. Holmes had the type of body that didn't age well and at 40 years old looked like an old man where as Wlad still looks incredible.