Larry Holmes believes that Mike Tyson ‘would have been knocked out’ by the legendary Muhammad Ali if they ever fought.
Holmes fought both men in his career, defeating Ali in 1980 and losing to Tyson in 1988.
But ‘The Easton Assassin’ thinks that Ali would have had the edge if he’d faced off with ‘Iron Mike’.
He told TMZ Sport in an exclusive report per Daily Star:
“Mike Tyson would get beat up ’cause 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.”
Holmes believes Tyson would have trouble avoiding that jab, despite the technique he had.
“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.”
His criticism of ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ didn’t end there.
The 70-year-old went on to reference his bout with Tyson and said he was ‘over the hill’ when they faced off in New Jersey.
“My toughest opponent was Kenny Norton. I fought Mike Tyson, I was kinda over the hill a little bit.
“I had retired then I came back and fight Mike Tyson. I really wasn’t in that good of shape.”
Tyson defeated Holmes in the fourth round of their fight via TKO.
His speed and tenacity was apparent and the older Holmes couldn’t match it.
But Tyson has always had major respect for Ali and he once lambasted Floyd Mayweather for comparing himself to Ali.
The 53-year-old vented:
“He’s very delusional, listen, if he was anywhere near that realm of great as Muhammad Ali, he’d be able to take his kids to school by himself.
“OK, he can’t take his kids to school by himself, and he’s talking about he’s great?
“Greatness is not guarding yourself from the people. ‘It’s being accepted by the people.
“He can’t take his kids alone to school by himself. He’s a little scared man. He’s a very small, scared man.”
Ali facing off with Tyson would have been the biggest fight in boxing history.
Who do you think would have won out of Ali and Tyson?
Sound off in the comments below.
