Larry Holmes Has No Doubt Who Was Better Between Muhammad Ali And Mike Tyson After Facing Both

Known as ‘The Easton Assassin’, Holmes shared the ring with both men during his exemplary professional career which saw him capture and hold the world heavyweight championship for seven years between 1978 and 1985, making 20 successful defences of his crown during this time.

His showdown with Ali came in October 1980, in what was the penultimate bout in the career of ‘The Greatest’ who retired a short while after.

Holmes defeated Ali via tenth round stoppage, although the victory was heavily overshadowed by reports that the health of the boxing icon had began to deteriorate prior to their bout.

Eight years after his victory over Ali, Holmes clashed with ‘Iron’ Mike at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City. Tyson blasted ‘The Easton Assassin’ out in the fourth round of their battle, in what was his 33rd consecutive career victory and the second defence of his undisputed heavyweight championship.

In an interview with Sky Sports Boxing, Holmes made no mistake in revealing who he believed was better between his former opponents and whether he felt Tyson would have survived during his era.

“I ain’t knocking Mike Tyson. No [he couldn’t survive in that era]. Ali? He’d slap him all day with the jab.”

Ali and Tyson are both credited with being two of the very best heavyweights of all time, although they never got to clash due to them campaigning in separate eras.

Whilst ‘The Greatest’ enjoyed the majority of his success throughout the late 60s and early 70s, ‘Iron’ Mike rose to stardom in the early 80s where he went on to become the youngest world heavyweight champion in history with that iconic victory over Trevor Berbick in 1986.