Tyson vs Larry Holmes

Sophism. Haven't you at least made the effort to assess the reasons why some of Tyson's opponents (those specifically who fought him while he was in his prime) were reluctant to take chances?

Moreover how does one short clip of one fight proves that "no one ever stood up to him and tried to hit him"?

Ludicrous...

 

prime Homes wouldve beat Tyson...that was an old and shot Holmes there. Until he got too cocky the old man was having his way.
Larry would've beat prime Foreman too.

 

I'm pretty sure this guy named James Douglas stood up to Tyson and tried to hit him. I'm having a little trouble remembering how that fight turned out, though

 

Ruddick stood up to Tyson and got beat, by TKO the one time and on the scorecards on the other.

 

All I said was Tyson got stood up to and hit.

 

I doubt that a 24 year old Tyson who had been undisputed champion of the world for a couple of years needed to be taught head movement by anyone, he knew all about head movement. The mistake the new team made was to allow him to get lazy and believe his own bull**** - Rooney wouldn't have allowed that to happen.

Tyson always has been and always will be his own worst enemy. It's tragic, I love watching him as a fighter, but I struggle to sympathise with him. Could have been the best ever, ended up practically broke and bowing out to Kevin McBride. Who'd have thought that could have happened back in 1988 eh?

 

I agree with that, up until the stoppage Holmes was handling Tyson pretty well but Holmes was overweight and undertrained, not to mention ring rusty. The fight always had a look of inevitability about it but as you say prime Holmes was a different proposition. Prime Holmes wouldn't definately beat Tyson but would have had a big advantage.

 

Hell yeah... I believe that Tyson himself admitted a prime Holmes could beat him.

 

There's a story behind that, Tyson said in the post fight interview that 'if he had been at his best I couldn't have stood a chance, he was a great fighter'

Truth was one of Tysons handlers ordered Tyson to give credit to Holmes should he beat him. Tyson hated Holmes and wanted to humiliate him if he won but he reluctantly agreed to say something nice about him in the post fight interview once he'd won. Of course Tyson being Tyson instead of just being respectful and not humiliating the guy he said what he did. Crazy character, as we all know.

 

Holmes wasn't having his way own, but he was doing well to limit Tyson's attacks. He focused exclusively on defense over the first 3 rounds. Moving, throwing out the odd jab, and holding Tyson when he dropped inside. No substitute for experience.

A prime Holmes would have beaten Tyson. Agreed.

 

Its easy to say that when you sit back in hindsight, but at the time imagine being #1 challenger knowing that every other man who fought him got demolished by him.. and you are more than likely going to be next.. Its daunting.

Tucker , Biggs were the first two to jab and dash with any effect and Larry used that as a blueprint.. The mistake he made was thinking that he could get physical at some point with Mike.. Douglas later utilised that jab and move style with added spice and a much larger desire to victor over Mike.. Where TNT , Biggs and Larry stood at distance , ouglas took intelligent chances to counter mike and make him feel like he couldn't intimidate James..

That was a big part of the key..

Ruddock tried it and just came up short..

Then Holyfield used the "HIT THE BULLY FIRST" approach that was most effective. Once everyone saw Mike closed down once he couldn't intimidate you, they took the game to him and many were succesful.. Danny W and Lewis.. (even though it was a jaded version by then) Mike was great while he had the aura but once that evaporated , he became one dimensional.. I love Mike and it broke my heart..

 

Yeah but you just admitted it yourself, Ruddick stepped up to Tyson the bully and failed. Ruddick hit as hard if not harder than any other heavyweight he ever fought, he took Ruddicks best punch the "smash" and kept fighting. When he fought guys like Williams, Lewis, and Holyfield he was not the same fighter.

 

your boy duran is whack LOL