Larry Holmes, the former heavyweight champion, thinks Joe Frazier would have beaten Mike Tyson if they had fought in their prime. Holmes shared this opinion during an interview with Sky Sports Boxing.
Holmes, known as "The Easton Assassin," has earned his place as one of the best heavyweights ever. He held the world title from 1978 to 1985 and defended it 20 times in a row. During his career, he beat big names like Muhammad Ali, Earnie Shavers, and Leon Spinks.
Holmes made his mark in boxing history when he won the WBC title from Ken Norton in 1978. He lost the title to Michael Spinks in 1985 and again in 1986. In 1988, he faced Mike Tyson and lost.
When Sky Sports Boxing asked if Tyson could have competed in the golden era of heavyweights, Holmes didn't hold back:
"I ain't knocking Mike Tyson, no [he wouldn't survive in that era]. Joe Frazier would beat him up at his own style. Joe liked guys like that."
Holmes thinks Frazier's style would have been too much for Tyson. Frazier was known for his non-stop pressure and powerful left hook. He was the first boxer to beat Muhammad Ali and became a legend during boxing's golden age. Frazier won 32 out of 37 fights and retired four years before Tyson started boxing.
Tyson recently made news when he lost a unanimous decision to Jake Paul last November. The fight happened at AT&T; Stadium in Texas and marked Tyson's controversial return after almost 20 years away from the ring.
Paul, a 27-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, started as a YouTube star before becoming a professional boxer.
Holmes' opinion adds to the ongoing debate about how fighters from different eras would match up. It's a conversation that keeps boxing fans talking and shows how much respect Holmes has for the fighters who came before him.
