Naturally, the first thing to do is to compare like opponents and performances. Here you can assess a fighter's strengths and weaknesses.
Like Opponents:
Larry Holmes would have to face Tyson's power and speed. Who are some of Holmes' opponents who possess some of Tyson's attributes?
Reynaldo Snipes, Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Ken Norton, Sparred with Joe Frazier.
Mike Tyson would have to deal with Holmes' jab, accuracy and ring generalship. Who are some of Tyson's opponents who possess some of Holmes' attributes?
James "Buster" Douglas, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, James Tillis, Carl Williams, Tyrell Biggs, Pinklon Thomas. Sparred with Greg Page.
OK, now chuckle a little. None of these opponents pose the type of threat, to either, that Tyson and Holmes would pose to each other. However, there are others. Also, you can only take what's on a fighter's resume.
The fighters on Holmes' raster possess Tyson's power but lack his speed. The fighters on Tyson's record possess some of Holmes' skill but none of his heart or ring generalship, durability or tenacity.
Holmes' biggest problem would be Tyson's speed. Tyson's biggest problem would be the list of attributes mentioned above, jab, ring generalship, tenacity.
Tyson enjoyed a HUGE intimidation factor over most of his opponents. You can forget that here. Of all the heavyweight champions I've ever seen, I could argue that, with the exception of Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes has shown the least amount of fear.
Tyson's record against "Holmes-like" opponents, is not very good.
Holmes' record against "Tyson-esque" opponents is very good.
In the beginning, Holmes would seek to neutralize Tyson's speed and power. You can forget the washed up version of Holmes who faced Tyson in 88. I know for fact that Holmes had only 4 weeks to train, after being out for nearly 3 years.
Neutralizing Tyson's speed would not be too difficult because it's his hands that are fast, not his feet. Holmes can move well enough to keep Tyson out of range with his jab and range. This would cause Tyson to miss a lot of punches early. It also allows Holmes to tie Tyson up when he comes close.
Everyone loves to think that the puncher will always score a knockdown before losing to the boxer. I hear this a lot with ALI against Louis or Marciano or Tyson. The truth is that it's not that easy for any of these fighters to knock down a prime ALI. It also would not be so easy to knock Holmes down.
By round 4, Tyson is becoming frustrated and throwing fewer punches. He's starting to slow down. Round 5 is a big round for Holmes. He's landing the jab with pin-point accuracy. The next three rounds are the same but with Tyson slowing down. He lands some body shots but pays the price as he comes in. Holmes nearly goes down in the 7th but he corrects himself and boxes from a distance. Tyson's left eye is half shut, due to swelling.
In round 9, Tyson rushes Holmes to the ropes where Holmes counters with a stiff uppercut. Tyson staggers backward and Holmes drops a huge right on the jaw. Now it's Tyson who nearly goes down as the bell sounds.
Round 10 is much like 9 with Tyson's eye swelling nearly shut. He's still trying but missing by a wide margin as Holmes begins to zero in on the eye.
In round 11, Holmes lands another sickening uppercut. Tyson backs to the ropes and Holmes fires away, sizing with the jab and landing hard right hands. Tyson's head snaps back and Holmes opens up with both fists as the referee steps in to stop it.
Holmes by TKO in 11
Like Opponents:
Larry Holmes would have to face Tyson's power and speed. Who are some of Holmes' opponents who possess some of Tyson's attributes?
Reynaldo Snipes, Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Ken Norton, Sparred with Joe Frazier.
Mike Tyson would have to deal with Holmes' jab, accuracy and ring generalship. Who are some of Tyson's opponents who possess some of Holmes' attributes?
James "Buster" Douglas, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, James Tillis, Carl Williams, Tyrell Biggs, Pinklon Thomas. Sparred with Greg Page.
OK, now chuckle a little. None of these opponents pose the type of threat, to either, that Tyson and Holmes would pose to each other. However, there are others. Also, you can only take what's on a fighter's resume.
The fighters on Holmes' raster possess Tyson's power but lack his speed. The fighters on Tyson's record possess some of Holmes' skill but none of his heart or ring generalship, durability or tenacity.
Holmes' biggest problem would be Tyson's speed. Tyson's biggest problem would be the list of attributes mentioned above, jab, ring generalship, tenacity.
Tyson enjoyed a HUGE intimidation factor over most of his opponents. You can forget that here. Of all the heavyweight champions I've ever seen, I could argue that, with the exception of Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes has shown the least amount of fear.
Tyson's record against "Holmes-like" opponents, is not very good.
Holmes' record against "Tyson-esque" opponents is very good.
In the beginning, Holmes would seek to neutralize Tyson's speed and power. You can forget the washed up version of Holmes who faced Tyson in 88. I know for fact that Holmes had only 4 weeks to train, after being out for nearly 3 years.
Neutralizing Tyson's speed would not be too difficult because it's his hands that are fast, not his feet. Holmes can move well enough to keep Tyson out of range with his jab and range. This would cause Tyson to miss a lot of punches early. It also allows Holmes to tie Tyson up when he comes close.
Everyone loves to think that the puncher will always score a knockdown before losing to the boxer. I hear this a lot with ALI against Louis or Marciano or Tyson. The truth is that it's not that easy for any of these fighters to knock down a prime ALI. It also would not be so easy to knock Holmes down.
By round 4, Tyson is becoming frustrated and throwing fewer punches. He's starting to slow down. Round 5 is a big round for Holmes. He's landing the jab with pin-point accuracy. The next three rounds are the same but with Tyson slowing down. He lands some body shots but pays the price as he comes in. Holmes nearly goes down in the 7th but he corrects himself and boxes from a distance. Tyson's left eye is half shut, due to swelling.
In round 9, Tyson rushes Holmes to the ropes where Holmes counters with a stiff uppercut. Tyson staggers backward and Holmes drops a huge right on the jaw. Now it's Tyson who nearly goes down as the bell sounds.
Round 10 is much like 9 with Tyson's eye swelling nearly shut. He's still trying but missing by a wide margin as Holmes begins to zero in on the eye.
In round 11, Holmes lands another sickening uppercut. Tyson backs to the ropes and Holmes fires away, sizing with the jab and landing hard right hands. Tyson's head snaps back and Holmes opens up with both fists as the referee steps in to stop it.
Holmes by TKO in 11
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