Larry Holmes has talked down the boxing ability of fellow heavyweight legend ’Iron’ Mike Tyson.
‘The Easton Assassin’ enjoyed an accomplished professional career, culminating in him capturing the world heavyweight championship and holding it between 1978 and 1985.
Holmes picked up a number of impressive victories during his tenure against the likes of Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Trevor Berbick to name just a few.
The Georgia native also faced ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali in 1980, stopping him in the tenth round to retain his heavyweight crown. Ali’s health had reportedly began to decline at the time of the Holmes fight, leading to many believing that the bout should have never been allowed to happen.
Despite his success, Holmes tasted a handful of defeats during his career, with one of those coming against ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, who knocked Holmes out in the fourth round of their battle in January 1988.
In an interview with Gareth A. Davies, Holmes revealed a number of legendary heavyweights who he believed would have gotten the better of ‘Iron’ Mike, even whilst he was at his formidable peak.
“He would stand in front of you, try and push you against the ropes, but he wouldn’t have been able to do that to me in my prime. I would have beaten him.”
“So would Ali, Joe Frazier, [Ken] Norton and George Foreman. But you should quit while you are ahead.”
Tyson made a sensational return to the ring last November, two decades on from his defeat to Kevin McBride in 2005. ‘Iron’ Mike suffered a comprehensive points defeat to YouTube star turned professional fighter Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.
