Larry Holmes was he really over the hill vs Tyson

[TheGreatA]

I don't think Holmes was ever in his prime after 1982-1983.

[Tyson.]

Holmes was never that unbeatable in his prime to begin with. A prime Holmes would have got KOed by Tyson. In Holmes' prime he was lucky to get decisons over Norton and Witherspoon. Shavers almost KOed him.

With Tyson, people always discredit his wins Spinks and holmes. Then when they talk about Lewis they say he has great wins over Holyfield and Tyson even though they were more washed up than Tysons opponents.

[Obama]

Over the hill but far from shot.

[StarshipTrooper]

Over the hill but far from shot.

What ***** said.

Poet

[DarkTerror88]

Pretty much agree with Poet ***** and Lights out. But I think he might have underestimated Tyson. Or his camp was too short to have him properly prepare.

[StarshipTrooper]

Pretty much agree with Poet ***** and Lights out. But I think he might have underestimated Tyson. Or his camp was too short to have him properly prepare.

He also hadn't fought in two years. More to the topic, Holmes was being said to be past-prime at the time of the Bey fight; but there is a difference between being past-prime and being completely washed up. A past-prime fighter might still be capable of knocking of a contender (Mercer for example), while a washed up fighter may well lose to journeymen.

Poet

[Sugarj]

I think the 1992 Holmes was far superior to the 1988 Holmes who came back for Tyson.

Holmes was two years out of the ring.

Holmes only had a very short time to prepare for one of the most devastating heavyweights ever at the very peak of his powers.


When Holmes came back in 1991 he took quite a few tuneup fights before returning to world class in 1992 when he fought superbly against Mercer and Holyfield. This will have certainly helped him shake the ring rust and got his body used to the rigours of training camps and not least the pressures of competing. The 1992 Holmes might have had enough smarts and improved conditioning to take 1988 Tyson rather more than four rounds. Granted I dont think that he would have had a chance of beating 1988 Tyson, but he would, I'm sure have done much better.

That said it was still a very good result for Tyson, Larry did fight quite well early and no one else ever managed to stop Holmes, so respect to the Iron man. Holmes would have needed to have been at his very best to beat 1988 Tyson. His best chance would have been between 1980-1982.

[Obama]

I think the 1992 Holmes was far superior to the 1988 Holmes who came back for Tyson.

Biologically impossible without PEDs. Ring rust was not even an issue. At a certain point a man's experience far out weighs him being active as his body can't recover from training / fighting like it used to.

Also lets not forget that 1988 Tyson was a peak Tyson, yet Larry did pretty damn good against him till the KO came. And the KO came early. Meaning if conditioning was going to be a problem due to lack of training, it didn't have a chance to come into play.

[carlos slim]

tyson would always ko holmes.....he goes for the killl....maybe it wouldve lasted longer if larry was in his prime....

[StarshipTrooper]

tyson would always ko holmes.....he goes for the killl....maybe it wouldve lasted longer if larry was in his prime....

If you nuthug Tyson much harder his nads are going to explode :rolleyes9:

Poet