Larry Holmes Interview

He would have been beaten by many heavyweights even in his prime, he looked good against a rusty Ali. Foreman, Ali, Louis, Lewis, Liston, all beat him for sure prime for prime. Marciano, Tyson, Holmes, and others would probably beat him too.

 

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Larry has alot of boxing knowledge and his opinion carries much weight. With that said I would myself pick Tyson over Frazier and I would bet $ on it. I wouldnt that shocked if Joe outgutted him.
Foreman/Tyson? I used to be 100% George Foreman on this fight but as the years go by I think Mike has a better chance than Joe did. Tyson was explosive, more explosive than Joe Frazier punch for punch.

 

True.
If Ali had said the same thing nobody would have cared neither would Ali. Perhaps it was the timing after just losing a close fight like that they look like sour grapes. Larry was right to say what he said but it was just the timing you know. he did try to walk it back at the end of the interview.

 

Joe Louis fighting Carnera is on par with that. I only mention that because Primo was a recent heavyweight champion. Frazier/Bonevena would have been in the same ballpark.

 

Yes.
I would guess Yank Durham was very pleased to see Joe get off the canvas and fight back like he did. That is the sign of a future champ in his 12th pro bout. I think Oscar had twice as many pro fights

 

Yes very rare isn't it.

 

As a fan of Marciano, I have to say that it was extremely bad taste that Peter Marciano was openly rooting for Spinks when I think he was actually Larrys guest.

 

Yeah I think it stung that little but more that the Marciano fans were rubbing it in somewhat. and there to do it. I never agreed with that. Records are there to be broken, by no ways does it lessen somebody’s legacy if somebody matches it or even surpasses it.

Larry always thought people were out to get him. But he had some good breaks and an excellent run.

 

Tyson was the best fighter in the world. But like Joe Louis, he was also the best fighter in the world getting all the breaks. Every opponent was lined up for him in the order he needed them at just the right time. This meant he was achieving a very rare thing. He getting a no expense spared opportunity to look his full potential each and every time.

So he was also getting a path of least resistance. Mike was getting all the right fighters, he was getting them all when it suited him.

Once Tyson mania put boxing back on the map the whole industry was about Mike Tyson..

That’s not Mikes fault. But when the boxing industry decides on it being about just one guy it then stops the heavyweight division being quite the level playing field for everyone else. So as good as Tyson was, he was also made to look much much better than he was because every match was matched in his favour. Guys were lined up. Waited their turn because it was all about Mike Tyson.

Sure some of his opponents were genuinely intimidated by how good Tyson really was but just as many opponents saw how much the business wanted Tyson to win.

At the end of the day the “business” of boxing made sure the fans got what they wanted because Tyson really delivered. But in the scheme of things this was a totally new landscape.

Boxing had never really been about just one fighter ever before. All the other champions had to make their bones in a much more level playing field than Tyson did. So that needs brining up.