Heavyweight great Mike Tyson has revealed the one fighter that punched even harder than Larry Holmes.
Tyson and Holmes locked horns at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City back in January of 1988, although it was no secret that ‘The Easton Assassin’ was past his formidable best at this point in his career.
‘Iron Mike’ wasted no time in dispatching of his countryman at that iconic venue in New Jersey, stopping him in the fourth round of their clash to retain undisputed heavyweight championship for the second time.
‘The Easton Assassin’ challenged unsuccessfully for the world heavyweight championship on two further occasions before his career came to an end in 2002, falling short to both Oliver McCall and Evander Holyfield.
In a feature with The Ring Magazine, Tyson overlooked Holmes when revealing the hardest puncher that he ever shared a ring with, naming none other than Evander Holyfield.
“He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions.”
Tyson and Holyfield fought each other twice within a seven month period between November 1996 and the following June.
‘The Real Deal’ stopped Tyson in the penultimate round of their initial showdown for the WBA world heavyweight title in Las Vegas, igniting one of the most memorable rivalries in boxing history.
Their rematch came just months later and despite the hype that had surrounded it, the fight itself ended in major controversy when Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ears in a bizarre moment which is now commonly known as ‘The Bite Fight’.
