Some stories refuse to die. Larry Holmes is undoubtedly counted among the greatest boxers of all time. Despite intermittent spells of inactivity during the later part of his career, a near-perfect usage of jab kept him inside the ring till 2002, when he finally hung his gloves at age fifty-two. But despite being outstanding, Holmes’ career is primarily overshadowed by two instances: first, when he defeated Muhammad Ali in 1980, and second, for the fourth-round knockout loss to Mike Tyson eight years later.

Fifteen years after he retired from boxing, an article came around wherein ‘The Easton Assassin’ reportedly expressed a belief that a reigning champion would outbox the Mike Tyson he fought three decades ago. As far as the two protagonists are concerned, Tyson is currently busy with a training assignment with Francis Ngannou. On the other hand, Anthony Joshua has had a good run this year, with two back-to-back victories. It seems the story has once again found its way back.

Larry Holmes raises Anthony Joshua’s hands against Mike Tyson

Beginning in 2017, Anthony Joshua was on a campaign to unify the Heavyweight titles. After winning a string of regional championships, he finally won a world title, defeating Charles Martin in 2016. On April 29, 2017, he defeated Wladimir Klitschko and added the WBA (Super) and IBO belts to his kitty, besides the already-held IBF title. A few months later, he knocked out Carlos Takam in a title defense. Among the thousands he impressed with his outstanding performance was Larry Holmes.

He was so impressed that the former champion concluded that Anthony Joshua would stand out even against a prime Mike Tyson. Reportedly speaking to the Express, he said, “If he fought a guy like Mike Tyson, he’d win. He would have knocked out a prime Mike Tyson. There’s no reckon about it. Mike Tyson went down low and then came up and tried to throw roundhouses. But Joshua would hit him with a straight right hand on the side of his damn chin, and Mike wouldn’t get up.”

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Holmes clarified that nobody just starting in the sport or attempting to make their way up the ranks ever faced him in a fight. He would storm inside a ring and start throwing punches, knocking down everyone. Because of this, over some time, he developed a formidable reputation as a puncher. Nevertheless, he clarified that he was not trying to rob Tyson of his credit. He had knocked out Holmes, and there was no doubt about it.

An unmatched legacy

However, for the loss to Mike Tyson, he shared about returning to boxing after a gap of two years. He stopped boxing and did nothing but sing in a band and travel. Larry Holmes had opened a can of worms bound for widespread disapproval. Most fans would agree that a young Mike Tyson was an unstoppable force. The bar he set at such a young age remains unbroken. A comparison with a young boxer like Anthony Joshua could be far-fetched for most. Perhaps, for many fans, more than the landmark victory, he is yet to forget the loss to a 21-year-old who had set the Heavyweight stage on fire since the great Muhammad Ali left.

“Beat Everybody in His Era” – Floyd Mayweather Picks Larry Holmes Over Mike Tyson as Best Heavyweight Despite Defeat

What’s your take on Larry Homes’ assessment? Do you think he overshot himself? Please share your thoughts and views with us in the comments below.

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