Prime Tyson vs Prime Holmes

[abdelfadeeli]

Some people have this mythical view of Mike Tyson, this belief that with Cus he would've been unstoppable.

Against Tyson you would need to be able to turn the BOXING match into a FIGHT. OF course it requires the ability to take a few punches in order to defuse the raging time bomb Tyson is in the first few rounds. You have to tie him up and tame him because he doesn't set a pace.

Tyson just comes out swinging. It's up to the opponent to set a pace. Not many can do this. By the time you've tried you're usually looking at the ceiling lights, if your eyes are even open. Larry is one of the few who CAN tame Mike in the early going.

Larry would have to be in the shape he was in against Ali. He brought his A-game because he didn't know what to expect with Ali.

Larry was strong enough to turn a boxing match into a FIGHT. He could do it all. He is the one heavyweight who had an answer for nearly every style. Though Ali would win a decisive one against Larry.

Larry pops the jab hard and fast in the early going. As Mike rushes in Larry might take a few but not enough to KO him. He ties Mike up, frustrates him and bullies him like Mike has done to so many others. If we are taking both in their prime the edge would certainly go to Holmes because his prime was at 30 and Mike's was at 22-23. Larry is the more mature and seasoned veteran.

I can't count the number of times I've seen Tyson fight and wonder why his opponent doesn't see obvious leaks in his defense or capitalize on the huge mistakes Mike often made in the ring. People are so busy watching Tyson that they can't focus on what the opponent is doing. Usually they're terrified.

Larry would fight King Kong. You have to understand what a man has inside. Larry is the oldest of a large family........WITH NO FATHER. He was Big Brother, provider, protector. There will be no fear factor here. Mike often cried before fights. Larry would get under his skin. Go ahead and say he did that already and paid when he actually fought Mike. I was there. I have seen Mike fight live 6 times. I KNOW Larry wasn't ready. He either took the fight on short notice or not at all. Jim Jacobs was a very smart man. HE did most of Mike's work for him, not Cus.

Mike would certainly be a hand full in the early going. However, Holmes is one of the FEW who would defuse Mike early and get past the raging bomb Mike is in the early rounds. You have to FIGHT him, PUSH him, FOUL him when he fouls YOU and even more so. Larry was generally a clean fighter and decent person. However, he can fight Clean, Dirty or anyway you wanna go with it.

Larry would do everything that needs to be done to take Mike out of his game early. Everyone had a game plan. Most would work provided you can stop Mike from doing what he does best and, above all, Don't Be Afraid. Evander and Buster KNEW this. Hell, Evander should be locked up for the things he did to Mike in the ring. After 6 it was like Man vs Boy. Holyfield looked Ten Feet Tall. Mike was mesmerized.

Larry would do the same. It would take him a few rounds to let Mike KNOW "This is how we will do it". Once you take charge you can control the situation. Larry would take charge, tame Mike early then beat him up in the middle rounds and stop him in 11 when Mike, still on his feet, doesn't want to fight anymore.

Holmes by TKO in 11

[BoxBuzz]

I would tend to agree that Mike at his best would fall short more times than not against Larry at his best.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Larry had a chin of granite but he stood straight up a lot of the time and didn't have much head movement and that's living dangerous against Tyson power and combine that with his hand speed so Larry would definitely have to be at his brilliant best to win his big heart and the fact that he showed in his fight with iron Mike although only in snippet's when he was past his peak what a younger version the one that could get on his toe's and win a fight with his great jab might have done I think that Larry would have to climb off the canvas once or twice to get the win most likely on points I think Tyson power/speed and head movement would give Larry trouble like I said Larry had a granite chin he did get straight up from a Shavers bomb in record time but that Speed that Tyson had Shavers could only dream of having Tyson might sneak in 1 win out of 3 but Holmes wins the series

[Kurgen22]

Would have been a good fight. I always thought Holmes was vastly underrated. He was a Boxer-Puncher along the lines of Joe Louis. That being said Tyson's speed and defensive ability is underated as well. While Holmes fought some heavy hitters (Shavers, Norton and Cooney come to mind) none of them had the speed and ability to throw quick combinations like Tyson did.
I think that Tyson in his Mid 20s would be too fast and strong for Holmes at any age and would have caught him within 8 rounds.
At age 30 Holmes wins by decision.

[Rexob]

Tyson KO

[Cap]

Tyson by KO in 3 or less. Holmes was over-rated and Tyson had the perfect style to beat him 9 times out of 10.