Larry Holmes, the former heavyweight champion, made a bold claim about Mike Tyson. He said Tyson wouldn't have been successful in Holmes' era of boxing.
In an interview with Bryant Gumble, Holmes didn't hold back his thoughts on 'Iron Mike'.
"Everybody in this room here would have been able to beat Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson was born right. You'd have never heard of him [in our era]."
Holmes compared Tyson to boxers of his time, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Ken Norton. He believed these fighters were of a higher caliber than Tyson.
But Tyson's career tells a different story. In 1986, at just 20 years old, he knocked out Trevor Berbick in the second round to become the youngest ever heavyweight champion. He went on to defend his WBC title nine times and added the WBA and IBF belts to his collection.
Tyson's run of dominance included victories over James Smith, Tony Tucker, and Michael Spinks. He became the undisputed heavyweight champion, a feat that spoke to his skill and power in the ring.
Interestingly, one of Tyson's notable wins came against Holmes himself. In January 1988, Tyson stopped Holmes in the fourth round. It's worth noting that Holmes was past his prime during this fight, but it still stands as a win for Tyson over one of the greats.
Tyson's first loss came as a shock to many. James 'Buster' Douglas beat him in what's often called one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Holmes, known as 'The Easton Assassin', didn't let the loss to Tyson end his career. He kept boxing for 14 more years, retiring in the summer of 2002. During this time, he had world title challenges against Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall, though he lost both fights.
While Holmes' comments have stirred up debate, they also highlight the ongoing discussions about comparing fighters from different eras. Each period in boxing has its own challenges and standout performers, making these comparisons complex and often subjective.
