Prime Vs. Prime: Larry Holmes Vs. Evander Holyfield

This matchup raises some interesting questions. It always seemed to me that the 2nd coming of Larry was better suited in some ways to fight men like Evander or Ray Mercer for that matter because he was bigger and probably stronger than the Larry of the 80's. Less mobile and somewhat slower sure but the added thickness I think made Larry stronger. Combined with his experience and savvy the extra size made him a still formidable opponent and a tough fighter to deal with. Eddie Futch once said that Larry was at times too fixated about his weight, that he would try come in too light for some of his fights which caused him some trouble. The later version of Holmes didn't have that problem and in some ways it may have helped him. It may sound silly but the younger lighter version of Larry might have had more trouble with a young Holyfield than the bigger version. He might have been more prone to getting into unnecessary exchanges with Evander when stung rather than the older Larry who sat back more and timed his man coming in. I lean toward Larry in his prime also but I can't help wondering....

 

Holmes is going to score the points with that jab. And he'd back up and circle while throwing it so Holyfield is going to be in the aggressor mode. I don't think that's what Evander does best at heavyweight and he always had problems with the jabbers and was too easy to hit. Once he's down on the scorecards, I sure don't see Holyfield coming back to stop a Larry Holmes. Holmes via decision.

 

Holmes UD. Valiant attempt from Evander, but he doesn't have enough artillery to stop the ultimate survivor.

 

The Holyfield that beat Bowe would break Holmes down, TKO by the latter rds, that fighter was completelly lethal.

 

The Holyfield who ''beat'' Bowe stilll loses a clear decision.


There is nothing that Holyfield did that Holmes did'nt do better.

They are close in quality of combinations.

Holmes is the wrong kind of fight for Holy.

 

Holmes would win 11 out of 15 rounds against Evander.Too much speed and skill, and of course, that legendary jab, would be in Larry's favor.

 

Holmes by UD. Too fast for Holyfield.

 

We'd actually see a decent fight too. Unlike their real one. What a snore bore ! One of the most boring big fights I've ever seen.

 

If old Holyfield gave a nearly prime Lewis d trouble he did and gave Bowe trouble in thier 2nd and even 3rd fights he'd still do enough 2 win a decision vs prime Holmes . Holyfield wins a decision . Holmes losing past his prime doesn't automatically mean that he'd have won in his prime . He would have only b able 2 make it more competitive but Holmes was not superior 2 neither Bowe nor Lewis . Although i m in a lone opinion , my vcash is bigger than every1 who picked differently despite being currently invested in a still open bet . If i had 2 bet on this fight , my only bet would have been on d over , as robberies r so common .

 

Holmes WSD15 Holyfield or Holmes WSD12 Holyfield. I think it would be very close but Holmes would do just a little bit more and earn the victory. All-time I rank Holyfield right behind Holmes... I rank based on H2H/prime vs. prime.

Holmes jab would be the deciding factor. Holyfield would try to outbox Holmes early and do well but not well enough. Holyfield would try to get inside and make it a more physical fight and he'd do well with this strategy. Holmes comes back in the late rounds and gains control of the fight going into the last round. I don't think either man would go down but both would get rocked more than once... Holyfield's punches would be the harder punches (hooks and uppercuts) but Holmes would be more accurate. Holmes overhand rights would land harder than Holyfield's right crosses.

 

A 42 year old Holmes on the comeback trail took a prime Holy 12 rounds and arguably won about 3 of them.. Turn the clock back about 12 years for Larry and I doubt he loses a round.

 

most here would have been astonished 2c that mccall , tyson , holyfield would have still beaten prime holmes . in mccall's case it is assumed that it is a focused clean mccall , which was rarely observed .
mccall simply experimented his boxing vs old holmes and won rds aggressively
and convincingly at will (and need) . after being announced as d winner he said : i can't do that with mike . meaning : he took it as easy as he could on holmes that would have been sufficient 2 win , but he would have been serious vs tyson .

 

Good, competitive match-up. I'd have to favor holmes because he was more proven at heavyweight but Evander was the real deal and would give holmes all that he could handle.

I see holyfield being the aggressor in the fight and taking the fight to holmes. Holmes would try to use his bread and butter jab to control the action and to keep evander on the outside.

Holmes would be fighting someone who rivaled him in handspeed, skill, and heart so he would take a lot of punches and lose some rounds. At the end of the day, however, I think that the jab scores enough points to earn him the win.

 

Another vote for Larry here.

I think the fight they did have showed us glimpses of what could transpire had this been a prime-for-prime fight.
To me, he has the right combination of mental fortitude, ring smarts, savvy and physical ability to beat Holyfield on points, and probably quite comfortably.

Evander looked great when fighters would engage with him, and allow him the opportunity to counterpunch.
Evander never looked that great when he had to look for a guy.

Larry did like mixing some leather here and there, but I think he'd be smart enough, after a few exchanges, to realise that it's not a great idea against Holyfield.
He'd also have the adaptability and flexibilty to change tack and box, box, box.

 

Holmes was too smart of a ring techncian to fight Holy at his game. Better reach, better jab superb ring savvy leads Holmes to a 12 or 15 rd UD. Now I love Holyfield, but prime Holmes is damn near the top of all time great heavies. Holmes uses his jab mxing in enough hard right hands/uppercut to keep a step on Holy, who would have some moments. But he wasn`t going to stop Holmes and he can`t outpoint him either...