Larry Holmes is adamant that he would have beaten Mike Tyson had they fought earlier in his career. He also backs a number of other heavyweights to have had the beating of the ferocious puncher from Brooklyn.
The pair met in 1988. 21-year-old Tyson put his undisputed title on the line against former champion Holmes, 38. It would be a fourth round stoppage for the younger, fresher man.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports Boxing, Holmes was asked if Tyson could have survived in his prime era, the seventies and early eighties. He said no, and used George Foreman as an example.
“George Foreman. Two seconds. He hit too hard. Anybody come at George Foreman… You gotta box George like Ali did, like I would do. You can’t stay there with George Foreman and take no punches. George will take your head off. Bang, bang, wap, wap. It’ll be like the kitchen sink he hits you with … He would hurt you, ruin you. Big guy, but he had no speed.”
Thudding puncher ‘Big’ George made his debut in ’69 and competed up until ’77 before a ten-year retirement. When he returned, he had one goal – to become world heavyweight champion again. At a point that could have been against Tyson, but a shock loss to James ‘Buster’ Douglas for the latter took it off the table.
Instead, Foreman would be successful against Michael Moorer at the age of 45 to become the division’s oldest ever titlist. He hung up the gloves with 76 wins, 68 knockouts, and just five losses. Notable scalps include Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Ron Lyle and Gerry Cooney.
