The Holmes That Fought Tyson…

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I selected 70% on the poll. But in truth it’s all just a guess. No way to accurately tell for sure

 

Thanks a lot

 

It’s very difficult to give a percentage.

Yes, of course Larry was way past his prime then.

However, IMHO, it was a very credible win for Mike, due to the manner of victory, and the fact that Larry could still beat world level fighters, 4 years later in the following decade.

Also, in a career which spanned 75 fights, across 20 years, Mike was the ONLY guy to ever knock him out.

So whilst it can’t be classed as being a truly great win, it was very credible. And I personally think that it’s ignorant for anyone to dismiss it. And many fans do dismiss it.


Now for the interesting bit.

For many years now, there has been two accounts given of this fight.


The first account:

Larry was grossly out of shape, and he hadn’t trained. He also didn’t believe that he could beat Mike at that stage. But Don King waved a cheque in his face, which he just couldn’t refuse.

He is quoted famously as saying to Don “I can’t beat Mike”

But then after being offered crazy money, then saying “Okay, where do I sign?”

Now is this account true?

Or was this just Larry’s ego, in trying to deal with the loss?


The second account:

This is very interesting.

Larry and his team negotiated throughout the majority of 1987 for a fight against Mike.

Larry did not take the fight on short notice.

Larry had trained.

Larry had actually had an exhibition fight.

Larry had a full training camp.

Larry was extremely motivated.

Larry was quoted as saying “Mike Tyson has been overrated by the majority of people, and I’ll prove this to you all with my jab” (paraphrasing)


Now which account is true?


What is factual, is:

1. He wasn’t rolled off of the sofa after a 2 year lay off.

It was a 21 month lay off.


2. He wasn’t overweight and out of shape.

According to the official weigh-in, he weighed around the same as what he’d weighed in his previous fights, bar 2-3 pounds.

 

From what I’ve read, he took training seriously, he had an exhibition fight, and he was motivated in trying to prove to people that Mike had been overrated.

See my previous post.

 

It’s hard to calculate.

But it wasn’t quite a 2 year lay off, and I’ve read that he was in shape, he’d had a full camp, he was motivated and had fought an exhibition bout.

 

I think the Homes fight was one of Mike's best victories. There is a point in the fight where, from memory, Holmes looks at his corner, in the full knowledge he is about to be beaten and says 'big round baby, big round', and he gets up on his toes, circles Tyson and shows that magnificent jab...for about 30 seconds. Tyson goes on to do what Tyson does, but those 30 seconds reminded me what Holmes woukd have done to Tyson at their peaks. I think Holmes peak beats Tyson peak, but Tyson beating even a 75% Holmes is a hell of an achievement.

 

It's possible that's right, that he trained hard for it.
The long lay off and going straight into a fight with Tyson worked like mad against him though.

 

Great post.
I also don't believe that Holmes was badly prepared or took the fight on short notice, he even boasted after the Biggs that he would beat Tyson.

 

If Larry and Tyson are 70% of Larry, what percentage did he have with Holyfield and Mercer? How much percentage did he have with McCall? Of course, I'm asking those who answered precisely, but I'm also willing to listen to others. Well, I wonder how Holyfield would deal with 100% Holmes

 

Thanks.

So you agree with the second account, where he had an exhibition?

 

Holyfield is my favourite heavyweight but prime Holmes beats him. Your point re the older Holmes, I think he was BETTER than the one Tyson beat....But Tyson beats that one too. Holmes has to be 100% prime to beat Tyson.

 

Yes, IIRC he said that when he was interviewed after Tyson beat Biggs.

 

Most people believe that he ate pizza for two years, where he was then rolled off of the couch at the last moment.