prime larry holmes vs prime tyson

[Gandalf]

Thats the thing I have to disagree with though, Britkid....

Lets put Tyson of '88 against any other model of Tyson. The other model only has a punchers chance and will probably get a beating. This means prime Tyson was something special.

Prime Tyson has a chance against any of the greats in heavyweight history.

Lyle loses points by suggesting that even Dempsey could beat Tyson. Dempsey was too small. A silly matchup really.

What you need to factor in, IMO; is that as awesome a force prime 86 to 88 Tyson was, he had them flaws that he showed later in his career, even then.

If he had met a Prime Holmes in 88 rather than a 38 year old Holmes, them faults would of shown though. Tyson would struggle in a fight in which he would not be able dominate, even in 88; there is no evidence to prove otherwise. If you stood up to Tyson and competed evenly with him for half a dozen rounds, you beat him.

BK, I know you are not Tysons biggest fan, but Tyson faced difficult fighters and simply outworked his opponents for decisions. Tyson could do this against Holmes.

Holmes at his best would try and toy with Tyson, and he would get clocked. Prime Holmes would not beat Tyson...at Tysons worst Tyson wins a decision...

The fights against Douglas, Holyfield and Lewis suggest otherwise, they showed Tyson could not cope fighting evenly with someone and finding a way to win, he always lost. A prime Holmes would merely add another name to that list.

IMO only the Douglas victory has any real merit