Mike Tyson had a better career than Larry Holmes.

Both Wlad and Sanders wanted interim fights before the rematch. So the plan was there, but then the politics got into it.

 

I don’t believe for a second that Wlad wanted the rematch.

Not after he was beaten like that.

And certainly not after a further loss to Brewster.

 

You can believe what you want. This doesn't change the reported facts.

 

What facts?

He didn’t pursue the rematch before Sanders retired.

 

Pulev was a decorated amateur and has a pro record of 32-4. He’s defeated Ustinov, Dimitrenko, Tony Thompson, Derek Chisora, Hughie Fury.
His losses are all too decent to good fighters.
I’m not saying he’s great but he’s probably better than Renaldo Snipes, Tex Cobb and others. Heck I wouldn’t be surprised if his skill took out someone like Tommy Morrison who lost to guys like Michael Bentt, and struggled with Joe Hipp.

 

Which one? I think the others answered most of them

 

I hear you mate. Hot tip tho - he's long lusted after a 100 pager and is acting accordingly. He bumps this every now and again in the hope of dragging out long back and forths mostly aimed at that goal.

 

I have a huge amount of respect for all fighters.

But Pulev would have been a B level fighter in many eras.

 

What southpaws could Larry have fought?

Who were the SHW’s who Wlad fought during his reign?

Why was Haye better than Witherspoon?

 

Not relevant to my point.

Pretty much everyone he fought was a SHW in terms of size especially relative to previous eras

Better is subjective. He was faster, more explosive, and had more power. The point is they're similar tier of opponents but while Holmes struggled with that level of opponent and had close fights that he arguably lost, Wlad dominated them.

 

Larry was a modern day fighter.

He fought in the 80’s and 90’s.

He didn’t fight in the 40’s and 50’s.

We’re not comparing Wlad’s opponents, to fighters who fought from decades and decades ago.

We’re comparing his opponents to the ones from Larry’s reign and era.

You’re just moving the goal posts because your initial comment was wrong.

Wlad didn’t fight any SHW’s during his reign.

Not what anyone would class as a modern day SHW.


David Haye hardly did anything at the weight.

He was no greater or more dangerous than Witherspoon.

He wasn’t a great win for Wlad.

Also, like Dynamic has mentioned earlier in the thread, Witherspoon really put it on Larry, whereas Haye was ultra cautious.


You can say that Wlad dominated opponents, that Larry was competitive with.

But we could absolutely find fighters on Larry’s resume, who he dominated, who were the same calibre of opponents who Wlad struggled with.

Wlad struggled with Sam Peter.

 

He must have terrified him in that amateur bout.

 

Yes and on average Wlads opponents were bigger and stronger then Holmes.

Objectively wrong

Saying so doesn't make it true.

Such as?

Losing maybe 2-3 rounds max over 2 fights isn't what I would call struggling tbh. I can't remember a single fight he struggled during his title reign until he lost to Fury. Holmes struggled way more over his reign while not exactly fighting a higher tier of opponents.

 

What's the point in debating, if you can't even be honest?

In his first fight with Peter, he was knocked down 3 times and looked vulnerable.

How on earth was that not struggling with him?

The rematch was different.

But Wlad struggled with power and pressure, and he was knocked down by a B level guy.

I didn't say that he didn't win on the cards.

But it was a hard fight for him.