Comments Thread For: Larry Holmes: Anthony Joshua Knocks Out a 'Prime' Mike Tyson!

[CubanGuyNYC]

I grew up 20 minutes away from his hometown in easton pa and he is known for being a very successful businessman, he owns many different businesses and properties office buildings ect. He damn near owns half the town. They even have a giant bronze statue of him. And he's just speaking facts the average person walking down the street had no clue who wilder is. Wilder hasn't fought big enough fights to become a major star like that. On the other hand the average person walking down the street would more than likely know who the easton assassin is

I’ve always heard this about Larry, and I’ve always been glad for him.

[jjsmyth87]

what people dont understand about Iron-Man Mike Tyson is that he wasnt really what you'd call a tough fighter. He usually steamrolled his opponents. Then when he needed to show heart, grit and courage against live dogs in Hollyfield and Lennox Lewis, he was found wanting.

By the time he fought holyfield and lewis he was way past his prime. If you look at his early fights in the mid 80's he had crazy head movement and was in incredible shape. Once his trainer amato died he got real lazy and lost all his best attributes and became a head hunter. He would have beat holyfield and most likely lewis had cus amato still been around

[TheBigLug]

Who knows. The heavyweight scene is different now, the average heavyweight is much bigger in general. It's almost like a different division these days, so it's hard to compare.

Tyson himself said he doesn't know how well he would do v the Klitschko's. He said athletes get better as time goes on, as much as people don't like to admit it and he's right. In any sport where there's a definitive measurement system of records and greatness, the records continue to get broken all the time. The thing with boxing is there's no definitive measurement, just opinion, but we would be naive to think boxing hasn't moved on along with other sports. It's just that everything is relative, so we don't truly see it.

That's really why it's unfair to compare different era's. There's just too many different factors involved. Drop a fighter from the old days as they were then straight into a ring with a current dedicated fighter in good condition and they would probably get demolished. There's just too many years to draw knowledge from and advanced training and conditioning methods. Athletes are bigger, faster and stronger than before and it shows in all sports where they can prove it.

Drop a great fighter from the past into today and give them all the same training and conditioning with sports science that fighters today get, then of course it's a different story altogether.

[jjsmyth87]

I really like wilder as a fighter and if hes serious about wanting to fight joshua hes making a mistake by not accepting the offer to fight whyte first. We all have seen what Joshua can do against top level competition when he knocked out klitschko, but we haven't seen wilder against top level competition so we don't know how he would fare. His best win is against stiverne who looks like he doesnt even train. Hed be better off fighting white to get that experience with a well conditioned top heavyweight, and that would guarantee him the fight with joshua if he won

[ruedboy]

Holmes was a great champ, but he's still hurting from the beat down Tyson put on him.
At 6'6 Joshua would be favored against the smaller Tyson but Mike would present some problems for the taller man.
A prime Tyson was a force of nature. Joshua looks great but besides having a tough fight with a faded Klitchko, he's faced weak opposition.
It's a war while it lasts but Tyson KO's Joshua early.

[chocolatebomber]

By the time he fought holyfield and lewis he was way past his prime. If you look at his early fights in the mid 80's he had crazy head movement and was in incredible shape. Once his trainer amato died he got real lazy and lost all his best attributes and became a head hunter. He would have beat holyfield and most likely lewis had cus amato still been around

I agree prime Tyson was a beast but I just dont remember any fight he had to show grit and come back from behind. Most of his opponents were beaten even before they entered the ring

[j.razor]

Perhaps you were just looking for attention when you wrote this. Tyson was fierce and destructive but trying to lock horns with a 250 lb 6' 6" Anthony Joshua would have been his undoing. Joshua is too big and way too strong and can't be compared to a Bruno or Tyrell Biggs.

Tyson was fast, strong, solid chin & would be the hardest puncher for him to face. AJ is slow & has a suspect chin. Tyson always K.O.'s weak chins.

[j.razor]

"Salty" Larry Holmes.

[jvsnypes]

I respect Holmes for his opinion but I strongly disagree. The "84" version of Tyson under Cus and Rooney was something special. He had all the attributes for greatness and the only heavyweight I envision beating that version is a prime Ali, who was also gifted with great attributes. You just don't see that type of speed in that particular division. The speed, the bob n weave, and overall skill that Tyson displayed at that stage of his career was second to none. Under Cus and Rooney, he was very disciplined and focused. Joshua has great ability and skill himself, but this version of him would not be able to deal with that speed, power, and ferociousness. But...we have not seen the best of Joshua yet. After he peaks, then we can make that comparison.

[bigjavi973]