1978-1980 Larry Holmes vs 1986-1988 Mike Tyson

[apollo creed]

How this fight would go with a prime Larry Holmes?

[JimStone]

Prime Larry Holmes is too good for Tyson. Nobody, other than maybe Ali, would beat peak Holmes until Fury. I know that is putting Fury on a strangely high pedestal but it's a styles make fights thing. There are several others who I think would beat Fury but only Fury who would beat Holmes.

[DrDuke]

Prime Holmes would outbox Tyson.

[apollo creed]

Prime Larry Holmes is too good for Tyson. Nobody, other than maybe Ali, would beat peak Holmes until Fury. I know that is putting Fury on a strangely high pedestal but it's a styles make fights thing. There are several others who I think would beat Fury but only Fury who would beat Holmes.

I agree. Prime Holmes would beat a prime Tyson. Fury in a tip-top shape with no ring rust would be very hard to beat by any ATG HW's.

[apollo creed]

Prime Holmes would outbox Tyson.

I agree.

[squiggy]

You have to favor Larry to box his ears off.

[goose 5]

In 1986, Jim Jacobs turned down an offer for Tyson to fight Holmes on HBO-circa September-and was quoted as saying Tyson won't be ready for Holmes for another 6 months.

[apollo creed]

In 1986, Jim Jacobs turned down an offer for Tyson to fight Holmes on HBO-circa September-and was quoted as saying Tyson won't be ready for Holmes for another 6 months.

Good info. Mike was good but also hyped. The people behind him made so much money.

[gilgamesh]

I think Holmes would outbox him. He'd get rattled a time or two, but I think he'd make it through it.

[AntonioMartin]

I agree with you all but..shouldnt this be ion mythical matchups instead????

[Jaywheel]

I’ll take Tyson. Holmes gets worshipped for decisionning the same guys Tyson massacred 2 years later.

[Paci]

It would be hard to tell, since well... Both guys are legends and yeah, don't forget that Holmes whent like 27 rounds with Shavers. Just saying, would be epic that all Im gonna say.

[bobcatbox]

Tyson. UD12.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- Boys, gonna keep it simple stupid for all you boxing illiterati.

In the stated time frame, your boy Lar never fought much less beat a standing champ having won his title in the ring...unless you want to count the dubious lineal title of an Ali so sick and weak I refuse to this day to watch. Don't watch vids of growed men beating up boys and girls either.

In Mikes time frame, he BTFO every title holder including the lineal by age of 21 as the all time record holder of purses won.

So, your boy Lar can't even be loaded in the fight breech, and lest there be any confusion as to his potential, ultimately the Lar record against standing champs having won their title in the ring is 0-6 including the IBO vs Neilson.

[apollo creed]

It would be hard to tell, since well... Both guys are legends and yeah, don't forget that Holmes whent like 27 rounds with Shavers. Just saying, would be epic that all Im gonna say.

[apollo creed]

Tyson with Cus/Rooney and without those bad distractions he had vs Holyfield in 1987-1988 would've answered how good Tyson was. But unfortunately bad things happen.

[f read]

I like this matchup. This was Tyson at his very best. This was Holmes at his best. Wow. I believe that Holmes one liability was that he never had that great opponent to bring out the best in him. Tyson was an unstoppable motivated force to be reckoned with during this time period. Larry with his size speed and oh that terrific left jab could keep Tyson off balance. If Larry could avoid the big bombs and take the fight into the later rounds he wins a 12 or 15 round decision. Tyson would have to get Holmes early and get right on top of him and finish him off in 3 or 4 rounds otherwise he is spent and Larry would coast to a convincing close but unanimous decision. Larry Holmes by decision that is my prediction.

[Enlightened-One]

We’re talking about a 217lbs version of Mike Tyson that went the distance with Tony Tucker, James Smith, Mitch Green and James Tillis, facing a 212lbs prime iteration of Larry Holmes.

Up until the end of 1980, Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers and Kevin Isaac were the only fighters to have decked Holmes. Larry was very resilient.

Tyson’s punching power seemed fairly ineffective from round seven onwards, stopping only Biggs and Ribalta (at that point in time).

‘The Easton Assassin’ proved time-and-time again his capability to overcome adversity, but this was something Mike Tyson never managed to do.

Therefore, assuming Holmes was able to make it through the first half of the fight, I’d expect him to gain the winning momentum, using the jab as his main weapon, and force a late stoppage over a disconsolate, exhausted and a deeply frustrated Mike Tyson.

[Boxtune]

This is all CRAP TALK. so many old farts in this group who think their youngster days heros still matter.

Out these old farts who call themself hardcore boxing fan, NOBODY KNOWS mr. Larry Holmes.

If you ask any UFC or other combat sport fan, they know mike tyson. But non give a Fart about Larry WHO !

[IRONFIST]

Peak Holmes would've boxed peak Tyson's head off for a mid to late stoppage win.

[Boxtune]

Larry holmes who fought tyson would get KOed in 1st round, if he didn't run on back foot and hold all time for entire three rounds.

[Enlightened-One]

In the stated time frame, your boy Lar never fought much less beat a standing champ having won his title in the ring...unless you want to count the dubious lineal title...

Ken Norton was the reigning WBC champion when he fought Holmes, due to the fact he had been ducked by Leon Spinks.

The 1978-80 version of Larry Holmes defeated two future world champions (Mike Weaver and Ossie Ocasio).

And I don't think I need to say anything about the Ali fight.

The 1988 iteration of Mike Tyson had captured his world championships by beating fighters that had never managed to successfully perform a title defence.

This is a moot point anyway, because both Holmes and Tyson both enjoyed lengthy title reigns and had defeated the very best fighters of their respective eras, regardless the fact neither man captured their belts from longstanding champions.

[apollo creed]

In the stated time frame, your boy Lar never fought much less beat a standing champ having won his title in the ring...unless you want to count the dubious lineal title...

Ken Norton was the reigning WBC champion when he fought Holmes, due to the fact he had been ducked by Leon Spinks.

The 1978-80 version of Larry Holmes defeated two future world champions (Mike Weaver and Ossie Ocasio).

And I don't think I need to say anything about the Ali fight.

The 1988 iteration of Mike Tyson had captured his world championships by beating fighters that had never managed to successfully perform a title defence.

This is a moot point anyway, because both Holmes and Tyson both enjoyed lengthy title reigns and had defeated the very best fighters of their respective eras, regardless the fact neither man captured their belts from longstanding champions.

EO is talking facts. Larry was a very good underrated boxer and I think a prime Mike would've been out-boxed by a prime Larry.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think Tyson would have had his moments, but Holmes was very mobile in his prime, and without the ring rust would have landed a lot of shots on tyson on the way in. I'd have gone with a late Holmes stoppage as a frustrated Tyson slowed and was gradually beaten down.

[chinarich]

Peak Holmes could possibly have kept Tyson off with his jab and ended up frustrating him and wearing him down for a late stoppage...