Larry Holmes vs Chris Byrd

We always talk about Holmes’ jab ...but he a great right hand too

 

No chance for Byrd. Unless you are talking about the 50 year old version of Holmes.

 

sure, Chris Byrd was a southpaw who grew up around boxing and is as slick and well schooled as they come. Larry Holmes was an excellent fighter, but I can't think of any southpaws he faced as a pro. He did fight a southpaw (Nick Wells) as an amateur and didn't do well. Byrd and Wells were not similar in style, Wells was a big puncher, Byrd was a slick boxer. Bryd vs. Holmes would be a high speed chess match. Holmes had an excellent jab, WK, somewhat similar to Holmes, handled Byrd well, but WK was much bigger and stronger and probably had a lot more experience with southpaws in his extensive amateur career than Holmes.

There aren't many that I'd pick over Larry Holmes. In this one I'd narrowly pick Holmes but I think it would be close and maybe controversial.

EDIT, here is an article about Holmes and Wells. Wells knocked out Holmes twice according to this.
http://brickcityboxing.com/2017/07/22/nick-wells-man-stopped-larry-holmes-twice/
"“By 1972 I’d won several eastern titles and was invited to Minnesota to compete in a tournament that was said to figure heavily in the selection of the U.S. boxing team. I made it all the way to the finals there, only to run up against a left-handed slugger named Nick Wells. It was the first time I’d fought a lefty. It threw my reactions off. I was hesitant and ended up being an easy target for Wells, who had good power. Good enough to give me the worst beating of my career and stop me in the third round. My first-ever defeat. The way things unfolded I had another opportunity against Wells in a later tournament in Texas. This time I managed to find left-handed sparring partners to get ready for him. Guess what? It didn’t matter. Not one bit. That guy Wells had my number, and he beat me again. Badly.”"

 

I'm picking Byrd in an upset. Holmes as a pro never fought ANY southpaws. He fought Nick Welles twice as an amateur and lost both times once by ko. If you take away Holmes jab which Byrd's right hand would be up against he would be completely unefective. Byrd by decision in a stinker of a fight.

 

No

 

Holmes UD

 

Holmes UD or late stoppage. He'd keep Byrd outside with his jab and considerable reach advantage.

 

Potentially tricky for Holmes as stylistically he didn't face too many fighters of Byrd's ilk. Larry tended to excel and look at his best facing guys against whom he could play the matador, but Byrd was a natural mover and there's a chance his southpaw stance could cause Holmes to land that jab with less regularity.

That said, Holmes' championship consistency, durability / natural fitness and ability to adapt to a more aggressive style when needed (ala how he rescued the Witherspoon fight, another stylistic nightmare for him) are the reassuring factors for me, and I'd still back Holmes to win this one fairly confidently. At his best I think Holmes overcomes some early frustrations to stop Byrd late.

 

Byrd s going to make Larry struggle, he'd be in and out of range to start with . But a determined Holmes doesn't lay down ,his amazing jab would start catching Bryd , slowing him down .An energized Holmes rips in to Bryd hurting him against the ropes . Stopping him whilst behind on points . Holmes w ko 11

 

Holmes was much better on his feet than Byrd. If anybody is going to struggle with movement here its going to be Byrd.

Long balls Larry can control this fight from the outside and never lose a round

 

Byrd is overrated ; feather fisted and gets beat down by Larry around 10 or 11th round

 

No chance even at 60

 

One of the keys to defeating a southpaw is a quick lead right hand. Though Holmes usually was a jab 1st type of fighter, I'm sure he could lead with the straight right hand if he had too. Also, just because Holmes had difficulty with a southpaw in the amateurs, doesn't mean he'd have that same issue in the pro's Holmes wasn't a great amateur, he was an excellent pro. I'd say Holmes by wide unanimous dec or late stoppage.