Read most of the posts and just some of my observations, opinions.
Twist and Laraque are probably both a bit overrated. Yeah they are considered by many the biggest and strongest HW the game has seen. Both topping the scales over 260lbs.
Twist beat most guys before the gloves came off in his prime. You have to repect that. He was so strong he threw most guys off balance including an aging Probert but not over the hill. Then he would overwhelm them with wild looping rights. Most fighters just bailed but really came out no worse for wear. Prime Twist was as feared as any fighter out there but imo a little overrated. It is to bad he did not have more years so we could have seen a few more battles with other top HW. He fought Kocur 1 time in his rookie season. Why not more? McSorely imo would have gave Twist a real test. No Marty was not the hardest hitter out there but he won his fights late in the fight and was Twists stamina great. I don't think so. Where were the names of the dangerous lefties of Twists era. At 6'4 240 and a razor sharp left
Chris Simon would have given Twist all that he could handle. Add Domi to the list also. Tie had great balance, rock solid chin and a very good left. Not saying these guys were going to handle Twist. We'll never know but you must ask why did they not fight? It is usually harder to fight a lefty than it is fot the Right hander, just the awkardness. Face it most righties fight 90% righties. Lefties fight 90% righties so they are used to it.
Laraque is also strong as an Ox. But sometimes you feel cheated after his fights. He is so strong most guys cant hang with him on strenght alone. Add to the fact he is a lefty and its a tough match up. I like the fact that he ducks nobody and is a clean fighter but I am left wondering how much he likes his job. He fights all comers but his style is boring. In recent years I have noticed that when he fights a guy with power or is a threat that if the fight is not going his way he will bail. Not going down himself but by throwing or wrestling other guys down and the fight is over.
Anyway Twist Vs. Laraque is a close match up and to me the series would be somewhat uneventful. If both were in prime I would honestly say the series would be close. 50/50....
I do think Twist may be the most intimidating fighter of all time when he was with the blues and in his prime (along with Probert)but in saying that he was beat even then. Mccarthy, Leroux.......