It was an era of unfulfilled potential. There was actually an embarrassment of talent in that era, if you look at the fighters themselves.
No. There were many quality hvys. Its just Don King controlled most and made them fight one another. Holmes bolted and wouldn[t fight many of the King controlled fighters.
And he was awarded the IBF belt. He did not win it in the ring against a challenger. And considered part of his title reign. but somehow escapes the criticism guys like Norton and Lewis get.
Exactly, John, inconsistency seemed the order of the day back then. Great prospects would get beat by people they shouldn't have (Berbick himself was one of if not the biggest spoiler, amazingly beating a young and prime Greg Page and an at-the-time-considered-world-beating Pinklon Thomas). It's tough for me to reminisce about the era's top contenders, because they all really ended up disappointing me. I had high hopes for both Witherspoon and Thomas. At least Tim won a couple of world titles (and didn't fade anywhere near as fast as Thomas). Speaking of Tim, I would have loved to see him up against the early 90s Bowe or post-Douglas Tyson...imo he very well might have had a chance to win!
Go ahead and name another DKP fighter that had the WBC belt stripped. And how about the fact he faced exactly one #1 ranked challenger > the Shavers rematch===which absolutely nobody picked Earnie to win.
Would have to disagree on this one. I'd have to say the mix of Fury, Usyk, Wilder, AJ, Wlad along with the likes of Joyce, Povetkin etc over the last 10 years trumps the 80s.
I agree i like Holmes as fighter but there are some glaring names he missed out on in the 80s Dokes, Coetzee, Page, Thomas, Weaver rematch. He should've fought atleast 2 of these names.
I get your point but I was just saying the reason Holmes didn't get flack for being handed an alphabet title is because he was well established as the greatest heavyweight going at the time. Norton certainly was not the best fighter in the division at any time in his career and Lewis only had a couple good wins on his resume when he was awarded the title, and he certainly wasn't the fighter he would evolve into years later.
Something I feel Holmes never shoulders the blame for is helping usher us into a three belt era. Without his backing the IBF may be liked at like the WBU today.
and that organization that awarded him the belt has the distinction of having their president convicted and sent to jail.
