Larry Holmes was the reason Tyson was over-rated

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Boxing125, Sep 16, 2016.


  1. Boxing125

    Boxing125 Active Member Full Member

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    It might seem a bit of a guess but I think Tyson following Holmes contributed to his invincible reputation. Tyson beat an aging Holmes ( who wasnt prepared for the fight). He also beat Berbick, carl the truth williams and michael Spinks easily

    Holmes narrowly outpointed Berbick and Williams over 15 rounds, while Spinks beat Holmes twice. Tyson beating these guys easily - including an under prepared Holmes meant Tyson looked brilliant compared to Holmes by the late 80s up against Holmes. Nearly everyone would have regarded Tyson as the better heavyweight by the late 80s up against Holmes. Holmes wasnt admired until he beat ray mercer in 1992 - when the public finally saw how good Holmes must have been to beat such a highly rated opponent when he was well past his best.
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2016
  2. thanosone

    thanosone Love Your Brother Man Full Member

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  3. Vince Voltage

    Vince Voltage Boxing Addict Full Member

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    My cat's breath smells like cat food.
     
  4. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

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    Check out the new novel - "Larry was afraid of a man named Pink" by Layden Kimball
     
  5. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Holmes didn't," narrowly outpoint Berbick ,"he outpointed him soundly there is no argument about that.

    1981-04-11 : Larry Holmes 215 lbs beat Trevor Berbick 215½ lbs by UD in round 15 of 15
    • Unofficial AP scorecard: 147-138 Holmes
     
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  6. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Absolutely incorrect - Holmes received his due well prior to the Spinks fights. It took some time but occurred wayyyyyy before any Mercer fight. The Mercer fight simply confirmed it (jammed it down their throat would also be close) for "modernists".
     
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  7. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    One word will suffice. YUP!
     
  8. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Tyson was rated very highly well before he beat Larry Holmes, and the result of Tyson-Holmes came as absolutely no surprise. At the time the win added almost nothing to Tyson's total reputation.
    Tyson-Spinks added something because a significant number of people expected Spinks to do better and last a bit longer, (and for whatever reason it was built up as a bona feide "super fight"), but Holmes was expected to be crushed (some thought killed!) anyway.

    So the OP theory is incorrect.
     
  9. Frankel

    Frankel Active Member Full Member

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    Mike Tyson is Top 10 All Time Heavyweight, no matter which way you draw up the list. Tyson knocked out half of his entire pro opponents, in the opening round. He knocked out many world champions in the first 4rds. Bruno, Holmes, Seldon, Tubbs, Spinks, Berbick were all crushed by his incredible power of punch. Legitimate championship contenders, were hammered, within a couple of rounds, like Truth`Williams and Alex Stewart,. He defeated prime world class fighters in Tony Tucker, James Smith, Pink Thomas and Razor Ruddock. Yet his boxing career ended, the day he was sent to prison in 1991. On his release 4yr later, all was left was, fear, intimidation and bravado.
     
  10. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Prime Tyson (1988 ) would beat any heavyweight in history........
     
  11. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    That was one damned impressive performance by Tyson IMO,...a performance that's aged well in the perspective of boxing history...Holmes wasn't like a shot Ali or Louis after all.
     
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  12. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I don't buy the "Holmes was not prepared" stuff.

    It was a comprehensive beatdown by Tyson.
     
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  13. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    He's pretty well established that Holmes did not have time to prepare for Mike Tyson and that his skills had diminished since his peak.

    Holmes was a 38 year old grandfather who had not fought in two years and had not looked good in his 3 fights prior to the layoffs and arguably should have been 0 - 3.

    Holies took the fight on very short notice, after a two-year layoffs with no tune-ups because he was offered three and a half million to face Tyson who he said at the time he could not defeat.
    Holmes was visibly out of shape and moved with none of the speed or grace that he possessed during his prime. He simply did not pass the eye test .Tyson, immediately after the fight acknowledged that he did not fight a prime Holmes and has even recently said that he defeated a shell of Larry Holmes.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2016
  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Holmes was in much better form by the time he fought Mercer. Still over the hill tho.
     
  15. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Holmes had no time to train for the fight.