The same Wlad that was ascared to fight Haye and might as well be fightin Jose Canseco or just retire? That one?
I tend to lean toward Larry in this one but I don't think it's as cut and dry as others think. Larry looked great against Shavers, Marvis Frazier, Leon Spinks, Tex Cobb etc..But he had definite problems with big men who could jab like Witherspoon and Williams. I also wonder why Larry chose to avoid men like Page and Gerrie C.(Please forgive but I forget how to spell his last name) other big men with good boxing skills. And lets not forget Snipes, a big strong kid with a good right hand who would've finished Larry if he had more polish. Now don't think I'm trying to diminish Larry in any way. The man is an ATG no doubt but fighting Vlad would be no walk in the park. He's a big man with good skills including a good jab. If an untested Cooney could last until the 13th round against Holmes then it's not a stretch to say that a bigger stronger and more battle tested Vlad could as well.
These were not prime showings of Larry Holmes, and quite frankly, there were some significant differences in style between those men and Wladimir Klitschko. I think if you're looking to draw a comparison to someone who had some resemblance, then the Gerry Cooney fight may better suffice. In some 6-7 years of being a top flight heavyweight, has Wlad unified all the titles, fought every contender available and beaten every man he's faced? Ah yes, I remember it quite clearly.. But, not quite as vividly as the site of a fat ass Sam Peter decking Wlad on THREE occasions before losing a decision. Oh not in the least.. Fair enough. If we're going to start on this " well if that guy could do it " ****, then I think Wlad along with your whole argument is in deep trouble.... Just a few tid bits to throw around: - When has Wlad ever gone 15 rounds, and who has he ever faced that has done this? - When has he tested his chin against the likes of men like Shavers or Cooney and was still standing at the end of the fight to tell about it? - How many times has Larry been decked in his career? - How many times has Wlad?
holmes doubles up the jab followed by immediate right hands that opens some sort of unimaginable cut above one of wlad's eyes that is profusly bleeding screwing up wlads vision making the ref stop the fight in about the 7th or 8th round.
to all of the posters who picked wlad yall probably might want to schedule a brain scan for yourselves. wlad is doomed the moment he signs the contract to fight holmes.
I still maintain that if Cooney could last as long as he did against Larry then it's not so farfetched to imagine that Vlad could as well. Cooney had potential but was carefully brought along and for the most part untested before he met Holmes. Vlad has a better arsenal and is a better overall boxer than Gerry was. The reason I'm bringing up Cooney is because he was the closest in size to Vlad along with Williams and these two men troubled Larry. Both Larry and Vlad have been dropped by lesser opponents but that doesn't mean that they're no good. For the record I still lean toward Holmes in this one. I don't think however that it would be a cakewalk.
Got to go with Holmes. He's tougher and would find a way to take advantage of Wlad's big weakness (his mind) Holmes was rough as hell in there and that part of his game gets under rated. He could get Wlad flustered imo and he had the better jab. Wlad is a live underdog though. He has an ATG right hand and Holmes was somewhat vulnerable to it. But Holmes was nearly impossible to keep down for the count and even if he dropped Holmes (which is very possible) he probably wouldn't be able to finish the job. A prime Tyson struggled to keep an inactive 38 year old Holmes down, and he is arguably the best finisher ever. Holmes late stoppage.
I actually think Holmes would out box Klitschko and THEN knock him out. He was more fluent, faster, had the better jab( IMO) and had the better ''out boxing'' ability. He just had way more skills, and Ive only seen Wlad forced to cut off the ring one time and that was against Ibragomov and he looked uncomfortable. Larry would put him in that same spot, but unlike Ibragomov, he was fast and skilled enough to beat Wlad to the punch and rough him up on the inside.
You are the one needing a brain scan. It is simply impossible to have complete certainty in these fantasy matchups. Holmes is so much more appreciated now than during his career. Current fighters always look back in fantasy matchups with past heros, because we tend to organize our memory in such a way that it accentuates the positive aspects from the past. If Wlad would beat someone who quits on his stool without being visibly hurt and then drops from a phantom punch in the rematch, the opponent would be labeled a bum. Ali's wins over Liston are glorified as great accomplishments. If Wlad would get KO'd from one punch and then in the rematch his opponent has a mental breakdown, it would not be seen as ligitimate avenging of a loss. Lewis is regarded as the man who defeated everyone he faced. Wlad has never been close to being outpointed. He has underrated skills for his size and very serious power. He might very well win a decision or late stoppage.