Who else would have KO'd Holmes the way Tyson did?

It was an unofficial and proverbial " passing of the torch" so to speak. Tyson had already cleared out the division save of course for Spinks, whom he was already preparing to fight anyway... It was time for a novelty match.

 

In the case of Dempseys win over Willard, you have to factor in the sheer size disparity.

I could concede your point, that Holmes was likely still a better fighter when Tyson beat him.

 

IMO Tyson's destruction of Holmes was one of if not the most impressive performance of Tyson's career. Holmes was no where near what he was in his prime but was still good enough to trouble practically anyone he got into the ring with. Holmes was a very hard guy to knock out even when he was old, years after the fight with Tyson he launched a good comeback which saw him not only beat Ray Mercer but give both Evander Holyfield (a top 10 heavyweight AT) and Oliver McCall good challenges for their titles. I think the version of Holmes Tyson faced had more left then the version which faced Holyfield but he was more rusty when he fought Tyson because of not taking any tune up fights.

On that night I'm confident a prime George Foreman would destruct of that Holmes inside a couple rounds. Liston would've taken him out, I think Holmes would've stretched him to the mid rounds. Joe Frazier would've given Holmes a real good sustained beating had he been in Tyson's shoes that night still I think Holmes would've probably been able to last to the mid rounds. Can't really think of any other heavyweights I would pick to do to Holmes what Tyson did on that night. Its very possible for any big puncher such as a guy like David Tua to catch a rusty Holmes early and finish him off but I wouldn't bet on it in fact had it been a prime David Tua in Tyson's shoes on that night I think it would've been a very
close fight.

 

Now you are just being naughty!

 

Dempsey got a lot of credit for beating Willard because :
1. He was much smaller.
2. Willard was champion. Dempsey was challenger,
3. A significant proportion of people at that time, perhaps a majority, genuinely thought Willard would win.

And it's a good win. In terms of the championship's history it is very significant, and Pound-for-pound it might be more notable than Tyson-Holmes, since Dempsey was dwarfed.

But in absolute and heavyweight terms Tyson-Holmes is better quality, and IS a good win.
That's absolutely true. Holmes in 1988 is MUCH BETTER than Willard.

Still, neither of these wins should be held up as exceptional wins over great opposition. When looking at the cold facts objectively.

Young, primed active fighters will beat old, soft, inactive, semi-retired ones coming off lay-offs, 98% of the time.

 

Yes, but the fights will usually be competitive.

 

Haye? 88 Larry gives Haye a boxing lesson.

 

Louis would have kayoed him, but if you are specifically asking "the way Tyson did" - as in, within the same amount of time and in the same manner...then, no. He would've gone about it a little differently and it may or may not have come by the 4th, or later.

...but Louis kayos that Holmes.

 

I disagree. The young primed active fighter usually gives the old man a beating.

 

Not really

Dempsey vs Willard
Ali vs Holmes
Holmes vs Tyson
Tyson vs Lewis
Marciano vs Louis

these fights weren't very competitive and in some cases, the older veteran was still active.

 

I favor the elite right hand bombers with Stamina Louis,Marciano,would do it, Louis quicker, Marciano later

I think Lennox could get him before the late rounds and guys that would have a good chance Dempsey,Schmeling,

50-50 fights Foreman,Weaver,Page and Thomas,Coetzee against a prime Holmes Max Baer could land that right but I favor Holmes

I think Tyson always beats Holmes

 

Joe Louis is my best guess .. I agree a prime 1959 Liston may be another .. A 1970 Joe Frazier would be brutal. A young Greg Page had the size, speed, power and fast start to possibly do it as well ..

 

Foreman, maybe Liston, the Klitschko's, you know the other aggressive big punching champs.

 

The Jess Willard that fought Dempsey

 

Holmes was more than rusty, passed his prime and not permitted to given time by King to get into proper shape.