Larry Holmes Circa 1980 Versus Mike Tyson Circa 1986

Holmes stops him in 10 after facing the toughest fight of his life.

 

While Tyson put a very impressive display against Berbick, I think - as he admitted it himself - that he wasn't seasoned enough as a fighter at that time.
So it would be very difficult to beat a prime Holmes.

 

Mike Tyson would have caught up to Holmes by the 8th or 9 th rd tko Mike Tyson over Larry Holmes !!

 

I used to think prime Holmes could pull it off but I think stylistically Larry would always have problems with Tyson. I would expect it to be a tough fight though and nothing like their 1988 match

 

Larry in 1980 was cleaning up on a very limited Scott LeDoux and a shot Ali.

He would be in for a rude awakening when faced with the speed, power and defense of a prime Mike Tyson. Larry lasts a lot longer than in their actual fight but at some point Mike lands a homerun right hand and. unlike Shavers and Snipes follows up furiously and ends the show, somewhere around the 10th round.

 

Holmes was comfortably ahead though against Shavers and Snipes. Even Buster Douglas got complacent while winning nearly every round against Tyson before he got dropped. But what ended up happening in all 3 instances? The fallen champion got back up and proceeded to pick apart and stop their opponent. Knowing just how quick and powerful Iron Mike is, do you actually believe Holmes wouldn't be highly cautious and avoid dropping his left following the jab?