Prime Holmes vs Tyson...

Its a close one, part of me thinks maybe Tyson just has the style to beat Holmes but then again Holmes had an amazing jab, footwork, recovery powers and ring smarts in his prime. If Tyson doesnt knock Holmes out in the first 5 rounds then he will lose comfortably in a decision.

 

For rating him so "lowly" you seem to be on the fence with him vs. half those people on your list.

 

what?

 

its fine, just.....dont do it again :nono

 

When I look at Larry's shutout wins in Shavers I and Cobb, then compare that to the problems a peak Tyson had with a rusty and misfiring Larry, I just don't see how Tyson pulls this one off. Mike had the speed to catch Larry for a flash knockdown, but 45 seconds elapsed between his second and third knockdowns when they actually did face off, more than enough time for a peak Holmes to recover.

The stale and inactive version of Holmes lasted through nearly four rounds against one of the fastest starting HW champions in history. Even then, when Tyson was able to take Larry out, it was because of a mental lapse on Holmes's part. (Mike Spinks to Holmes from ringside: "What are you doing? Concentrate!")

Finally, if the going got tough, Larry got going, while Tyson went packing. Holmes probably wouldn't have the firepower to pound Tyson down, but Tyson never had the heart to continue against determined resistance. (His one bright moment against Douglas was the result of a single punch, not a sustained assault.)

His ability to use his height and reach effectively troubled Tyson when they did meet, and would be too much to solve in a peak for peak confrontation.

Holmes ret 13 Tyson

 

I AGREE MOSTLY WITH THIS statement BUT I DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE THEORY THAT PRIME TYSON WAS ONLY LETHAL IN THE EARLY ROUNDS

look at the douglas fight, when he was badly out of shape. he nearly destroyed douglas with 1 punch in the 8th round

 

IMO prime Larry takes Tyson. Using their fight as an example is extremely misleading, and is a horrible example. IMO the Larry from the Mercer and McCall fights could take the Larry of the Tyson fight. A prime Larry would be able to keep away from Tyson for the first 4-5 rounds, which are pretty much Tyson's only chance at winning. Larry would keep his jab and swells Tyson up. By the 12th round Tyson has lost his will to fight, and Larry starts nailing Tyson frequently. In the championship rounds Tyson isd cut, swollen, and discouraged. Larry sences it and starts standing in front of Tyson pounding him, Tyson holds his ground, but doesn't swing back. The fight is stopped. Holmes TKO 14.

 

i know the record says that tyson wasn't so awesome late in a fight BUT I THINK HOLMES WOULD OF BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN HIM

 

this could of been a rivalry to match ALI V FRAZIER IF MIKE HAD OF BEEN BORN A FEW YEARS EARLIER

 

His one bright moment against douglas was a result of a sustained effort not just one punch. Douglas fought a great fight and Tyson as the rounds progressed tried harder and harder to close out the show. He didnt quit at all. There is nothing in the fight that suggests that he was quitting or he was mentally yielding to Buster's resistance. People forget Tyson's mentality how he spoke in interviews, his mindset of the sport. In his peak he cared about his place in history.

I do think that Tyson would beat Holmes in about 8 rounds.