Larry Holmes defence was very underrated.

[automaton89]

Even coming out of 2 years retirement and fighting peak Tyson, he had masterful positioning and got hit the least in 4 rounds of any opponent 80s Tyson fought. His inactivity leaked eventually but still...

Tyson did credit him as having the best defence of any fighter he fought.

People always bring Up Mayweather but Holmes was also a master at defence. And Maweather rates Holmes in the top 3 for a reason...

[Dr. Z]

Holmes had a good defense overall, but was prone to a nailed by good right hands.

Owner of an all time and versatile jab. It was fast, long, powerful, accurate, and could be used for offense or defense. Holmes had the gas tank to fire it all night. Perhaps the best over all jab among heavyweights.

[automaton89]

Holmes had a good defense overall, but was prone to a nailed by good right hands.

Owner of an all time and versatile jab. It was fast, long, powerful, accurate, and could be used for offense or defense. Holmes had the gas tank to fire it all night. Perhaps the best over all jab among heavyweights.

He got clipped once or twice in a given match. That's it. Maybe loss of concentration

[Dr. Z]

He got clipped once or twice in a given match. That's it. Maybe loss of concentration

He was nailed by good right hands more then once... Witherspoon, Snipes, and Shavers. All good right handed punchers. A small hole in an otherwise good defense. Holmes fought quite a collection of punchers! Good thing for him he had a great chin.

[QueensburyRules]

Even coming out of 2 years retirement and fighting peak Tyson, he had masterful positioning and got hit the least in 4 rounds of any opponent 80s Tyson fought. His inactivity leaked eventually but still...

Tyson did credit him as having the best defence of any fighter he fought.

People always bring Up Mayweather but Holmes was also a master at defence. And Maweather rates Holmes in the top 3 for a reason...

- - All thumbs Tubby Lar was impeccably equipped for early busted eyeball stoppages.

[BKM-]

Even coming out of 2 years retirement and fighting peak Tyson, he had masterful positioning and got hit the least in 4 rounds of any opponent 80s Tyson fought. His inactivity leaked eventually but still...

Tyson did credit him as having the best defence of any fighter he fought.

People always bring Up Mayweather but Holmes was also a master at defence. And Maweather rates Holmes in the top 3 for a reason...

Evander Holyfield's defense might not have been as pretty in their fights, but he certainly had the best defense Tyson faced. In all of their 14 a 15 rounds in the ring, he really only landed 1 hard clean hit that hurt Evander and that was the very first punch Tyson threw in fight 1 in the opening seconds. After Holy tasted his power and knew he could take it, he pretty much dodged, muffled and leaned with anything Tyson threw even his best combo's. He didn't have a mark on his face after the fights other than missing parts of his ears.

[BKM-]

He was nailed by good right hands more then once... Witherspoon, Snipes, and Shavers. All good right handed punchers. A small hole in an otherwise good defense. Holmes fought quite a collection of punchers! Good thing for him he had a great chin.

And a lot of heart and stubbornness.

This guy would try to get back up to fight if you just shot gunned half of his head off.

[automaton89]

He was nailed by good right hands more then once... Witherspoon, Snipes, and Shavers. All good right handed punchers. A small hole in an otherwise good defense. Holmes fought quite a collection of punchers! Good thing for him he had a great chin.

I wrote once or twice per fight, that's good

[automaton89]

Evander Holyfield's defense might not have been as pretty in their fights, but he certainly had the best defense Tyson faced. In all of their 14 a 15 rounds in the ring, he really only landed 1 hard clean hit that hurt Evander and that was the very first punch Tyson threw in fight 1 in the opening seconds. After Holy tasted his power and knew he could take it, he pretty much dodged, muffled and leaned with anything Tyson threw even his best combo's. He didn't have a mark on his face after the fights other than missing parts of his ears.

Holyfield himself said that himself defence wasnt too great and that he got hit a lot during his carrier

[Dr. Z]

As a Holmes fan, he is one of the few ATG heavies that could fight in ANY era with different rules sets.

Perhaps his best single thing was toughness. He had IMO the least about of weakness to his game.