Mike Tyson had a better career than Larry Holmes.

Yeah, I meant that the three best he beat 1983-1985 - Witherspoon, Bey and Williams - were about on par with the three best he didn't fight - Page, Thomas and Tubbs - during that period. But a Witherspoon rematch was definitely merited. As was his mandatory against Page. And, as you have said many times, it is a difference between skipping a mandatory like Byrd in order to face Vitaly than skipping Page in order to be gifted a belt by a new organisation.

In short, Holmes didn't conduct himself like a champion 1983-1985 but still happened across some good fighters.

 

Lennox Lewis did not do that.
Vitali was a late sub for Kirk Johnson.
I think Lewis's original plan was a Tyson rematch though.

 

@JohnThomas1 clarified that situation in the Holmes-Lewis thread recently, but I can't really remember right now. If they were in looking for a fight with Vitaly, but it fell through and then it was Johnson but he got injured and it became Vitaly instead, as originally intended. Something along those lines, I think. JT:s memory seemed clear on the subject, so I saw no reason to doubt him.

 

I had an article up as well. It went thru exactly what happened as posted.

 

I do seem to remember HBO wanted the Vitali fight for November that year, so that might be correct, yes.

 

To be fair Tubbs was never on the table. I never saw any talk or demand whatsoever for Holmes to fight him.

 

Rest assured it is.

 

It pops up about once a year

 

Yes

 

You're not being consistent here.

Pac was about 1 year younger so mentioning that he's "younger" than Floyd doesn't detract from the fact he was pretty shopworn. He was not beating "world beaters" at the time unless you count Bradley. Rios and Algieri were mediocre opponents.

His other opponents were not p4p sensations.

Yes maidana best Broner, but Broner turned out to be a disappointment at 147. His only good win was a very close decision over malignaggi.

Holmes had a better resume at an OLDER age than current Mayweather. Do you really want to compare Logan Paul and McGregor to ray Mercer and Holyfield???

Holmes LOST to spinks and then immediately rematched him. What are you even talking about? Where does this stupid narrative keep coming from that he avoids difficult opponents? He fought Tyson after a layoff at an old age for crying out loud. Mayweather would never do that no matter how much money they offered him.

Your arguments are actually pathetic ironically. You gave Mayweather a pass for avoiding Thurman, brook, and porter but are criticizing Holmes for beating the men who beat the so called murderers row of the 80's...!

 

This conversation is a waste of life... my suggestion is for you to start a thread on the subject and see if someone else will give you the time and education you require. Have a good day

 

The Smith Holmes beat had a better resume than the maidana Floyd beat.

The David bey Holmes beat had a better resume than the Andre Berto Floyd beat.

The prime Witherspoon holmes beat was more of a threat h2h than the old ass bum shoulder Pacquiao Floyd beat.

Yes I went there. Let's have this discussion.

 

Where'd you here that?

 

I read it, at the time it happened, in a very respectable magazine.

 

I read that Carl Williams was brought in for the May 1985 fight with Holmes after Tony Tucker turned down the chance.