Larry Holmes vs Tyson Fury

Pretty even fight imo, will likely be an uneventful jabbing contest. If my life was on the line I’d probably pick Holmes I guess idk, I’ve been watching a lot of Holmes lately

 

Fury himself said he struggled with the slipperiness of Cunningham. The lesson from the fight wasn't that Fury was green (he was) but that a shorter elusive opponent would give him trouble.

Holmes is too quick, too skilled, too sharp overall. Also keep in mind Holmes was designed for 15 round fights. In a 12 rounder, Holmes can up his workrate even further. IMO while it will be competitive, Holmes is quicker, can fight a higher workrate, and will prove to be an elusive target to Fury. Holmes will have little trouble landing on Fury. So while Fury may win some rounds, he isn't winning the fight.

Holmes 8-4.

 

Holmes decision.

 

Holmes UD.

 

Holmes , 145 -140

 

Holmes struggled with the height and reach of Carl Williams, the size difference would be too much, Holmes would not be able to do anything with Fury, Fury would be sticking the 273lbs 85inch reach jab in his face and Holmes would not be able to do anything, Fury would be feinting and taking over and Holmes would be clueless, Holmes doesn’t have the right style to deal with Fury
Fury: 6’9 273 lbs 85 inch reach, style: Pressure but keeps it behind the long jab
Holmes: 6’3 210 lbs 78 inch reach, style: likes to box at range and outjab opponents, doesn’t like to fight on the inside, doesn’t like to get in and out, he likes to stay on the outside and that would not work against Fury especially with Holmes’s dimensions

 

Fury is only 4 inches taller, which wouldn’t be a problem for Holmes and the reach won’t make much of a difference considering Holmes will have the timing and handspeed advantage. For now I’d have to go with Holmes by late stoppage, but Fury’s career still isn’t over, so things could always change if Fury goes on the clean out the division.

 

You'd have to take Holmes, at least on resume at this point.

 

At this point in history I’m saying Holmes, but if Fury cleans up with AJ, Usyk and a young pretender he might show us enough to take this H2H

 

That fight took place two years into Larry's decline. He proved himself against other fighters larger than him (undefeated Leroy Jones and Gerry Cooney). Stopped them. Jones was a pretty decent boxer.

The big problem for Fury is the fact that Holmes' overhand right tended to land best against opponents as tall or taller than him. I see Holmes being a little weirded out by Fury in the early rounds, finding the range for the left in the middle and starting to dominate. By the 7th the right is starting to land more often, and by the 11th Fury is exposed as the gangly, Jethro Bodean lookin' mutha****a he really is, getting caught in the corner and stopped by Holmes' patented avalanche of rights. His face is a mess.

Holmes TKO 11

 

I'm assuming this is prime for prime ('80 Holmes vs '16 Fury). Probably a somewhat competitive fight... Maybe even interesting if they decide to really trade. UD for Holmes... but definitely not a shutout.

 

Holmes consistently showed his ability at Champion level, Fury has few more fights to go.

So at present i favour Holmes

 

Holmes wins. Fury has beaten an older man and another guy who can punch, but has a glass jab and can't fight. Those are his two best wins.

 

Quoted for Truth

I do admire Fury's win over Wilder (despite the latter's faults). But the win over Wlad wasn't exactly a big deal...Wlad was well past it.