To my knowledge, Holmes only fought one Southpaw as an amateur, and was KOd by Nick Wells. Still, even though I am not the biggest Holmes fan, and believe that he is comically overrated these days in proportion to what he actually accomplished, I usually say that we should extend courtesy to a great fighter by not comparing him to someone who has not yet finished his career. Let Usyk beat Joyce for that WBO belt and defend it against Parker, and then we start to get there.
Hard to argue with this. I think Usyk is one of the most highly skilled HWs I've ever seen and could potentially go on to achieve huge things in his career, but as of this moment he just hasn't achieved enough to firmly pick him over a bonafide legend in Holmes. I'd say Usyk is precisely the type of fighter to give Holmes kittens though. Plenty of lesser fighters did.
Again, perfect agreement. What Usyk does in there is pretty unique, and people will be singing his praises for a long time after he hangs them up.I also think it is an interesting contrast that Holmes would not unify, or even fight his mandatories, whereas Usyk is openly lamenting that he he wants to fight for the unified belts and they may split off the WBO. Just a real difference in motivation there. Still, Holmes is remembered as a great, and I will give him that respect.
Honestly I'd go on record and say yes he will, provided there are no ref and/or judging shenanigans. Even if he doesn't I think it'll be the mixture of power and physicality which does him in, which aren't qualities Holmes possesses in great enough abundance to trouble Usyk. As Usyk starts warming up in the division I think he's going to start putting on some dominant performances and questions like the above will start to become a lot harder for many people to answer.
Not a fan of Holmes, and Usyk is still a work in progress, so ask me in ten years time. If I had to answer the question right now, Holmes by a very comfortable margin.
Sorry, it's a bit late but I would like you to know that I feel for the hardships and pain you are enduring on the day of İnternational Day of Persons with Disabilities since you seem to be blind and/or reta*ded.
Prime Holmes destroys him. Usyk hasnt shown anything remotely close that he could come close to hanging with a prime Holmes
The Holmes who toyed with Cooney, or the one who SDed a very motivated Norton in a 15 round war, or the Holmes who got up in the 7th somehow to dominate Shavers in my opinion is just about too much for the Usyk I saw against Chisora.