Larry Holmes beat Muhammad Ali in 1980 and lost to Mike Tyson eight years later.
Holmes caught Ali late in his career. In fact, it was way too late for many to stomach. It’s widely accepted that the man known simply as ‘The Greatest’ should not have been in the ring that night due to ill health, something that was picked up pre-fight and ignored.
Billed as ‘The Last Hurrah’, Holmes was a clear winner and it ended by corner retirement after ten rounds, making him the only man to ever defeat Ali by stoppage.
Tyson at aged 14 had reportedly been on the phone with Ali when he witnessed the Holmes defeat. On the call, facilitated by his trainer Cus D’Amato, he told the heavyweight legend, “don’t worry champ, when I get big, I’m going to get him for you.” He did just that.
Holmes – who reigned as world heavyweight champion from 1978 to ’83 – saw the tables turned as he faced the 21-year-old when he was 38. ‘Iron’ Mike scored the stoppage in four rounds.
In a resurfaced clip of an interview on Sky Sports Boxing, Holmes said Tyson would not have lasted in the seventies and picked Ali as a clear winner in a fantasy match-up.
“I ain’t knocking Mike Tyson. No [he couldn’t survive in that era]. Ali? He’s slap him all day with the jab.”
There’s not a boxing fan on the planet who wouldn’t be intrigued by the match-up, particularly how Ali’s unorthodox and confident defence would stack up against Tyson’s ferocious attacks. It is one that could be debated for days.
