Larry Holmes laughs off suggestions Anthony Joshua would’ve beaten him

[tiny_acres]

I laugh off the suggestions too. Holmes would've boxed Joshua's head off and stopped him. Heck I'd pick Frank Bruno to beat Joshua. Holmes would have a tougher time with Fury but would get a UD victory.

X2
Larry was just on another level skill wise

[margaret thatcher]

Holmes would've had some trouble moments for sure vs Josh, but pull out the win. Maybe gets hurt or put on his ass like Renny Snipes and plenty of others did to him, but gets up to win.

Josh stops Bruno

[gilgamesh]

I laugh off the suggestions too. Holmes would've boxed Joshua's head off and stopped him. Heck I'd pick Frank Bruno to beat Joshua. Holmes would have a tougher time with Fury but would get a UD victory.

It'll be interesting how we all look at Joshua vs Bruno when Joshua's career is all said and done.

[Onamastus]

For three rounds Holmes would be on guard as Joshua loaded up on the big scary power shots, but then the accumulation of missing punches and eating jabs would begin to take their toll on AJ. His 'superior size and nutritional training' would likely feel like his body was weighted down by a suit of dumbells as Holmes would glide the ring slamming more and more jabs into his swollen, gasping face. Some big right from the Easton Assassin would begin the unraveling process circa 10-12 I guess.

[cormack]

Holmes ducked Foreman

[bigjack]

Holmes really was a joy to watch,brilliant movement and skills,the way he fought back when hurt against Shavers,Snipes and Witherspoon was the sign of a true great,little of that shown so far from Joshua who crumbled on his biggest test.

[polecateddy]

I remember Bruno reflecting on how early in his career he felt out of his depth sparring Mike Weaver, and didn’t feel ready to fight Weaver and fighters such as Holmes. I think the sensible call with Joshua v Holmes, would be just Holmes hitting Joshua a lot and Joshua tiring out and being stopped in the late rounds.

[Tevfik1907]

However, the superior size and athleticism of fighters like AJ and Tyson Fury would have been massive obstacles to overcome.

That's saying like Wilt can beat Ali.



“The reach don’t mean nothing if he can’t find anything to hit”

Didn't you see 1.88 Andy Ruiz Jr. KTFO Anthony Joshua? And then AJ tried to outbox Ruiz Jr. in the rematch instead of using his ''superior size and athleticism''?

AJ couldn't KO Joseph Parker (1.93) as well.

And Tyson Fury said except for himself only Oleksandr Usyk (1.90) could beat Deontay Wilder, not AJ.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Holmes ducked Foreman

Foreman was retired when Holmes was in his prime.

[Enlightened-One]

However, the superior size and athleticism of fighters like AJ and Tyson Fury would have been massive obstacles to overcome.

That's saying like Wilt can beat Ali.

No it isn't.

And then AJ tried to outbox Ruiz Jr. in the rematch instead of using his ''superior size and athleticism''?

Anthony Joshua did use his superior size and athleticism during the Ruiz Jr. rematch. He used his height, length and lateral movement to keep out of harms' way. This strategy obviously requires certain physical attributes and fitness levels to implement.

AJ refused to engage. It was all about implementing a simple one-dimensional strategy of throwing straight arm punches, whilst remaining on the outside.

One of the main reasons why Andy Ruiz Jr. lost the rematch, was due to his own lack of athleticism. And no one can possibly say this wasn't the case, since his lack of work-rate and weight gain was heavily publicised/discussed. His lack of reach and mobility also prevented him from getting in range to hit the target.

There isn't a single person in this forum that has EVER claimed that size is the ONLY thing that matters.

And it's utterly moronic and horrendously dishonest of you to suggest otherwise!

Food for thought, would Larry Holmes’ legendary jab have been anywhere near as effective if his reach wasn’t longer than his opponents, if he didn't enjoy a height advantage for most of his fights and also if he didn't have quicker hand speed than most of the men he shared the ring with?

Whether you like it or not, those are physical attributes... and they really do matter, but other things do as well.

[oogiebe]

YAWN...

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Holmes ducked Foreman

Foreman was retired when Holmes was in his prime.

They were noth active in the 90s. I think holmes claimed foreman wouldnt fight him thiugh

[margaret thatcher]

I read in history that Tyson ducked Foreman in the 90s, and a passionate historyboi circle jerk ensued about how old george woulda ko'd him. I wonder,....

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Tyson had a good chin. I dont see george scoring a one punch ko of tyson which is basically what he would have had to do

I also dont remember that fight being seriously discussed. I just googled it and per big george

"That guy was a nightmare....i disnt want any part of Mike Tyson no way"

[margaret thatcher]

Ah , okay, might be just another form of the history bois wanking off to the older generation guy. Tyson woulda done some busting up of that George.

[gilgamesh]

I read in history that Tyson ducked Foreman in the 90s, and a passionate historyboi circle jerk ensued about how old george woulda ko'd him. I wonder,....

Young George could've stopped Tyson. George in the 90's would've gotten beaten the hell up, and lost a wide UD. Not out of the question he might've gotten stopped late.

I would imagine his face would've shown a lot of damage too.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

To be fair i saw another article where tysons people thought Mikes style would leave him open to foremans punches like frazier so they didnt want it either

Guess if neither guys wants it probably why it didnt happen

[margaret thatcher]

Old George couldnt string more than a punch or two together every now and then, and ya Mike wasnt one to be 1 shotted, really doubt he'd have beaten Mike, most likely Mike beats him up, busts his face up Alex Stewart style for wide decision or something

[Onetimeonly]

Ah , okay, might be just another form of the history bois wanking off to the older generation guy. Tyson woulda done some busting up of that George.

George says a lot. Tyson was the focal point of his comeback. They even had at least one card together to build it. I always thought it was king.

[Onamastus]

The entire point of Foreman's comeback was a Tyson fight. It's literally the reason why he came back and was the main subject of every ring and magazine interview he did at that time. He was campaigning hard for it and was devastated when Douglas beat him. Anything Foreman says to the contrary now contradicts everything he said at the time and can be ignored.

[Enlightened-One]

Holmes ducked Foreman

Foreman was retired when Holmes was in his prime.

They were noth active in the 90s. I think holmes claimed foreman wouldnt fight him thiugh

That didn’t happen.

Foreman and Holmes agreed to fight. The terms were agreed and the contracts were signed.

However, the promoter lied to both men, claiming he’d ran out of cash and both Holmes and Foreman withdrew from the bout after being asked to take pay cuts on the sums they’d previously agreed.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Foreman was retired when Holmes was in his prime.

They were noth active in the 90s. I think holmes claimed foreman wouldnt fight him thiugh

That didn’t happen.

Foreman and Holmes agreed to fight. The terms were agreed and the contracts were signed.

However, the promoter lied to both men, claiming he’d ran out of cash and both Holmes and Foreman withdrew from the bout after being asked to take pay cuts on the sums they’d previously agreed.

They were supposed to be earning some big bucks weren’t they?

[Enlightened-One]

Tyson had a good chin. I dont see george scoring a one punch ko of tyson which is basically what he would have had to do

I also dont remember that fight being seriously discussed. I just googled it and per big george

"That guy was a nightmare....i disnt want any part of Mike Tyson no way"

Today, Foreman is very complimentary of all fighters. Almost too nice to the point of being dishonest.

But back in the 90’s Big George regularly called out Tyson.

A Tyson-Foreman bout seemed inevitable after both men faced Douglas and Cooney, but Don King claimed ‘Iron’ Mike didn’t want the Foreman fight based on what Cus D'Amato had told him.

Foreman definitely wasn’t scared of Tyson.

[Enlightened-One]

They were noth active in the 90s. I think holmes claimed foreman wouldnt fight him thiugh

That didn’t happen.

Foreman and Holmes agreed to fight. The terms were agreed and the contracts were signed.

However, the promoter lied to both men, claiming he’d ran out of cash and both Holmes and Foreman withdrew from the bout after being asked to take pay cuts on the sums they’d previously agreed.

They were supposed to be earning some big bucks weren’t they?

Foreman was getting in the region of $4m (although I’ve read articles claiming the amount was $9m) with Holmes receiving less, which is a huge amount for a non-title bout.

There was also a six month window during 1976 where the fight seemed likely, but Holmes’ promoter (Don King) and trainer (Richie Giachetti) didn’t feel Larry was ready.

[Tevfik1907]

AJ would have cleaned his clock.

Say it with me.

Athletes get better with every generation

Holmes wouldn't last six rounds, AJ is bigger, stronger, faster, better trained and better conditioned than anyone from his era. Fact.

Yeah no, Holmes would easily outbox AJ.