Quote Originally Posted by ICB View Post
Well i for certain rate Larry Holmes above Mike Tyson, i've seen most of Larry Holmes's fights and he is one of my favorites. But i still wouldn't be biased i truly believe he is better and achieved more.

He beat fighters like Ken Norton, Tim Witherspoon, Earnie Shavers x2, Gerry Cooney, ETC. Those names are much better than anything on Mike Tyson's resume, except for obviously Larry Holmes himself.

But Larry Holmes was ring rusty, and he was coming off a bad stretch. Where he hadn't looked good in quite awhile. I think the early 40's version was better than the faded late 30s version. Plus he only had a few weeks to train for the Mike Tyson fight.

Just watch a prime Larry Holmes at work against Earnie Shavers, in there 1st and tell me that version of Larry Holmes wouldn't of beat Mike Tyson. He was simply superb and looked like one of the best Heavyweights of all time in that fight, which he already is but im on about all the greatest Heavyweights on there best night. That night he was probably top 3 easily.

He could also comeback from near defeat something Mike Tyson never did, which is another reason i rate him above Mike Tyson. He was in deep trouble against Earnie Shavers 2, Mike Weaver, Renaldo Snipes, yet he would comeback brilliant like a true champion does.

Larry Holmes was the complete package he had the greatest jab of all time IMO, a heart on a similar level to Muhammad Ali. Good chin, Athletic, Fast, Underrated power, Good footwork, Excellent technical skills. Just really all the attributes a great fighter needs.

20 title defenses in 7 years ducking nobody, and was very unlucky in his 2nd career not to win the world title at 45. Because i think he beat Oliver McCall, and he almost beat a prime Evander Holyfield, plus his amazing display giving a prime Ray Mercer a boxing lesson aswell.
I dunno if you think I was trying to say Tyson was better, I consider them on a similar level, but I accept Holmes as a great HW, certainly in or around the top 5 of all time