Prime: Larry Holmes .Vs. Prime: Mike Tyson

I'd have to take Tyson and probably by a stoppage around round 7 or earlier.

Holmes has some critical intangibles over Tyson -heart and will- overall character, ability to deal with adversity...but the fight wouldn't last long enough for these to truly come into play.

Tyson is designed to exploit Holmes' style and he'd get under those long, arm punches that Holmes threw at times. Holmes was a rythym fighter, who often warred with his man. This would be critically wrong in this fight. This is a fight were Holmes' herculean pride would be counter productive --his punch wasn't quite enough to damper Tyson's enthusiasm and his physical strength is quite less than Foreman's. I'd be on the edge of my seat waiting for the big shot to crash Holmes' body knowing full well that his spirit would be in defiance. But he'd go down anyway.

I see Foreman beating Tyson, but Holmes beating Foreman, and Tyson beating Holmes. Styles make fights.

 

Tyson said Holmes was better. If Douglas, Lewis and Holyfiel could beat Tyson, Holmes could too.

 

Jeffries said Johnson was better

By using your logic, If Tyson, holyfield, Spinx could beat Holmes....tyson could too.

 

Pee Pee for china

 

And Johnson said Jeffries was not only the greatest of his time, but of all time.

Sure, Tyson, Holyfield and Spinks beat an old Holmes. Tyson was not old for Douglas or Holyfield.

 

i hate how people always use the "mental" card with Tyson, saying he's mentally weak so he looses. I'm getting tired of that ****. When did a prime Tyson ever show mental frailty? This is PRIME Tyson vs. Holmes, not "Tyson who fought Douglas" vs. Holmes, or "Tyson who fought Lewis vs. Holmes." Lets be fair here.

Imo, Tyson would knock him out the same way he did in the their real fight. Fighters like Holmes are made for Tyson. Also, Tyson at his best, has been hit, and I've never seen him discouraged or put off his gameplan pre-1990, except maybe with Tillis to a certain extent t (yet he still won). This idea that Holmes is going to hit him and Tyson's gonna give up is just stupid.

 

Over 15, Larry stops Mike late, or takes the UD. He could physically neutralize Tyson inside, and his obviously misfiring rusty jab and reach gave Mike some trouble when they did square off.

I can see Tyson producing a knockdown, but never finishing a peak Holmes off. Larry failed to survive round four of their match by only five seconds. 45 seconds elapsed between the second and third knockdowns Mike produced. We're discussing the Holmes who produced shutouts over 12 in Shavers I, and over 15 rounds against Berbick and Cobb. None of them were in Tyson's league, but those outings demonstrated that Larry would not wear down.

For Holmes, this would be a very hard earned win. Stylistically, Mike was well geared for Larry. But the combination of height, reach, mobility, physical strength to neutralize Tyson in close, ring intelligence, and deployment of the jab on a continual basis, would be a little too much for Mike to overcome. I don't expect that Holmes would score any knockdowns, but if he did manage to deck Tyson, a right uppercut would be the likely culprit, following steady punishment from the jab.

Naturally, Mike would have to continue moving forward, as much for defensive as offensive purposes. If he began to retreat, giving ground to Holmes with any kind of significant time remaining, then the scorecards could probably be ripped up at that point.

 

Good post Deenereno. :good

 

Holmes ud or late TKO. People seem to ignore or forget about Larry's powerful uppercut that could split Tyson's guard down as the fight progressed. Larry's jab would set the tone after the first 5 rounds. Larry was a fighter that took it round by round. You could destroy him one round, and he would come out the next like it was the first bell. I don't think Tyson would have much time to set up his combos, it's not like Larry will stand right in front of him, he will be spinning Mike around and flicking his jab into Mike's face.

 

Firstly Tyson back then was a more stable fighter and actually still liked to fight and being a boxing historian himself he knew what a victory would mean to and for him.....and thirdly i dont think larry would beat mike on there best nights....I mean he stopped Larry and stopped him cold which was something no one did before or after so i really dont see Larry doing a lot better slightly better yes but i beleive mikes speed, power , and stylee are all wrong for Larry

 

Easy win for Larry, Tyson would not win more than a round or two.

 

In actuality, Shavers and Snipes did fail to win more than a round or two against Holmes. Tyson had the necessary speed and power in his right hand to drop Larry. However, I think Mike would be hard pressed to win any rounds where Holmes stayed on his feet. As with Holmes/Shavers II, the crowd would be on the edges of their seats for as long as it lasted. In my mind, the most likely scenario is that peak Holmes/peak Tyson goes the 15 round distance. I just don't see Mike getting a decision over Larry, or even coming close in the scoring. But there would very probably be moments like the Long Count Knockdown, where the dominant boxer suddenly appears in imminent danger of getting taken out. Tyson's mere presence would keep this one riveting, even if Larry scored a one sided blow-out.

 

larry holmes by tko 11

holmes was too good to get beaten by a fighter who didn't fight with a consistent strategy. larry keeps a good distance and sticks out that jab. this keeps tyson out of range and occupied. tyson bobs and weaves in the early rounds and lands a few shots that catch larry's attention. nothing too much as larry will (and can) prevent the fight from being midrange. after 5 rounds, tyson goes flat footed and throws wild swings. no consistent strategy. holmes's accurate jab lands more and he discourages tyson his with heavy right hand. holmes is methodically outpointing tyson. this progresses into tko by holmes in the late rounds.

 

Prime vs Prime, I'd take Larry Holmes. Unless Tyson can get to Holmes' body early and often, he probably loses a unanimous decision by 3 or 4 points. Tyson would have a tough time with the Holmes jab and right hand combo, especially if he has to play catch up after losing the opening rounds.
Tyson could definitely win enough rounds to keep the final decision interesting but he's not out-boxing Larry Holmes. Maybe Tyson wins a 12 round fight, but Larry wins if it's a 15 rounder.