Personally,I could only see Morrison definately beating The Butterbean version of Holmes,the 52 year old version. I think even the 42 year old version of Holmes from The Mercer fight would find a way to scrape out a decision,i really think based on styles that Morrison would've given this version of Holmes a bit more trouble overall than what his conqourer Mercer managed to do,which was basically practically nothing,but that was a Mercer akin to the version of himself in that draw he had with that 7-14 fighter(whats his name
). Still,i see Morrison doing quite better than Mercer did during that time against Holmes.I think the version of Holmes from the Cooney fight would methodically dismantle and bust up Morrison pretty similiar to what Lennox Lewis did against Morrison,something like a 6th rd tko,maybe an 8th rd tko. The version of Holmes from the 1978 Ken Norton bout would probably stay in boxer mode and win by late rd tko or landslide decision,yeah,i could actually see Morrison going the distance against that version of Holmes,the less refined version. The more careless reckless versions of "The still learning version" of Holmes from the Shavers and Weaver fights in 1979 just might hit the deck early on against Morrison,but rally to get a dramatic looking ko around the 10th or 11th, and I think the 1980 version of Holmes that tko'd Scott Ladoux in 7 would be in for a bit of a fight for a good 6 rounds or so as well.
These versions of Holmes werent refined and explosive enough and generally slow starting so i actually see Morrison doing suprisingly well against Holmes until he'd fight the 1982 version of Larry. I honestly dont see any version of Larry Holmes blowing out Morrison in the 1st round like he did against Marvis Frazier,that is unless Morrison would be in one of his complete reckless swinging for the seats gunning for a 1st rd ko mode. I think Morrison generally speaking would obviously be very respectfull and knowledgable enough of Holmes's overall abilities and extraordinary credentials and would never underestimate any version of Larry Holmes. I could see Morrison making decent to pretty good opposition against the 78-81 versions of Holmes,not so good against the 82-85 versions of Holmes and then pretty good again against the 88 version of Larry,the Tyson victim version,and then quite competitive against the 1992 Mercer fight version of Holmes.
Like i stated,i really dont see Holmes having an explosive enough style to just downright blow out Morrison in 1 or 2 rounds,that just generally wasnt Holmes's style,he generally preffered to box,much like Ali. And i actually could definately see Morrison catching the 1979 reckless learning phase Holmes early and putting a bit of a scare into em in the early going.
