Larry Holmes has revealed his verdict on a fantasy showdown between former rivals Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
Known as ‘The Easton Assassin’, Holmes rose to fame during the 1970s where he would become the world heavyweight champion in 1978, reigning for seven years until he was eventually dethroned by Michael Spinks.
He racked up a number of impressive victories during his world title reign, defeating the likes of Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon, James Smith and the man they refer to as ‘The Greatest’ – Muhammad Ali.
Holmes challenged unsuccessfully for a version of the world heavyweight title on four occasions before his career came to an end in 2002, falling short to the likes of Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall and Tyson.
Speaking to TMZ, Holmes shared his thoughts on a fantasy showdown between Ali and Tyson after facing both, making no mistake in backing ‘The Greatest’ to ‘beat up’ Tyson in a shock claim.
“Mike Tyson would get beat up because he’s a face fighter. He comes in down low, and Muhammad Ali is a jabber. He’d get that jab in there just like he did with Joe Frazier. So, Mike Tyson would have to get around that jab, and he’d have a lot of problems getting around that jab. Mike Tyson would’ve been knocked out by Muhammad Ali.”
Drawing from his own experiences in the ring against both men, Holmes’ bold prediction highlights Ali’s outstanding legacy as ‘The Greatest,’ leaving fans to ponder the ‘what if’ of this iconic fantasy clash between two of boxing’s biggest names.
