Prime Holmes vs Tyson...

If you watch how slow of hands and foot Holmes was against Tyson, and his paltry offense, there is no way you can use that version of Holmes as a barometer of how a young blazing fast, fleet footed, piston-like jab, wonderful condition, excellent work rate version of Holmes would do. A prime version of Holmes mostly controls Tyson with speed, jab, footwork, clinching, good work rate. Tyson would only have a puncher's chance, and a much more desperate one than when they fought in 88. And if Holmes gets caught, I can still see Larry surviving and recovering well. If Tyson didn't get him early, it would be Mike who took the beating.

 

Tyson takes him out in 6

Styles makes fights, and Larry (as great as he was) was made to order for Tyson.

 

Holmes was giving Tyson trouble? Yeah, then he preceded to get KNOCKED THE **** OUT. This wasn't Chavez-Taylor, not even close. It was scheduled for 12 rounds buddy, at least let it go half way before stating that Holmes was "clowning" Tyson.

 

Tyson was molded to beat Holmes from a young age, his style is perfect for it, Tyson by KO mid rounds

 

Sorry man, you wrote Tyson got clowned, that's the way I interpreted it. Larry was showboating at the beginning of the 4th before getting doused with his kryptonite, a right hand. Larry used every bit of savvy to fend off Tyson's follow up, did everything one could do to survive, and still ended up on that canvas soft spot.

I believe a younger, sharper, better Holmes would make a good fight out of it. But those right hands, man, those right hands are bound to hit their mark on Larry's solid chin. I don't see Larry surviving against the faster more powerful Tyson.

 

It should also be noted though of how careless Larry got against them due to his dominance. After winning 12 straight rounds against Earnie in their first fight, then another 6 straight rounds in the rematch up until the knockdown. When Earnie knocked Larry down, he caught Larry doing something very stupid. Holmes lunged in with a right uppercut from the outside with both of his hands down. Seizing the moment, Earnie launched his famous overhand right haymaker and it caught Larry flush.

Against Snipes, again Larry being foolish, stood infront of Renaldo with zero movement after being pretty dominant. Renaldo threw the two light jabs which hid the right hand that followed. With Larry being completely stationary and not moving his head at all the right landed square and Larry went down. He got up and proceeded to dominate Snipes for the remainer of the round.

Had Larry been dropped out of nowhere while being completely focused I would agree more with your point, but in Larry's career the only man to drop Holmes when he wasn't doing something stupid was Mike himself. The version of Larry that Mike faced was hardly anything compared to the Holmes of 7-10 years prior to that.

I can't analyze the brief Kevin Isaac knockdown of Holmes in the early to mid 70s because I've never seen the fight, but from what I hear it was a flash knockdown.

 

this would be a great fight. one of the ones i'd most like to see. i think it would ebb and flow, and either could take a decision. could see tyson slowing holmes down with right hands, holmes was too easy to hit at times and was prone to lapses in concentration...

 

Prime Holmes would treat Tyson like a double end bag. Mike would get frustered in the middle rounds and open himself up to a Holmes right hand. Holmes wins a comfortable UD. Controls the center of the ring and ties up Tyson when needed and peppers him with the jab and straight right hand all night long.

Mike never beat anyone who stood up to him. And a Prime Holmes would not be intimidated.

 

:nono

This is a myth that needs to be laid to rest.

 

I am sure prime Holmes would not allow himself to get complacent with Tyson like he did against Shavers the second go around and Snipes. He was having his way so easily with them. In his prime Larry does not stand there to get clocked.

 

This :deal

 

you are an excellent poster Bill and you made some good points. I know you are friends with Larry...the thing in my head is Holmes getting KO 2 times at the end of his amateur career by unorthodox puncher Nick Wells who was a short stocky guy like Tyson who could switch up the right hand and the left like Tyson...Tyson fought an older Holmes but I still think it was a matter styles and this short stocky guy who came up with his punches and punched in bunches was a problem for Larry unlike Shavers who threw one at a time or Snipes who was never a finisher

 

:deal

 

Both fighters have major flaws. Tysons flaws predominantly were in his head. He was loaded with self doubt. Take any Tyson into deep water he is going to lose.

Holmes conversely had ATG will to win, heart....no self doubt in Holmes. Technically he always dropped that jab of his. Tyson capitalized on this when he fought old Holmes....watch that first knockdown and the second. Both right hands over low lefts.

So the issue prime vs prime is whether Holmes would bring out the dog in Tyson before he gets caught with a right hand after dropping that jab. Could go either way but my money would be on Tyson.

 

A repeat of the actual fight