Larry Holmes...Some of the fastest pair of hands for a big man?

Me too. It's like Larry's injury in the Norton fight. I'm not denying the authenticity of the claim,but I think it's been a tad exaggerrated. Holmes was throwing plenty of punches with BOTH hands.

 

I may be mistaken here but is that the same book where Larry says Ali was scared of Tiger Williams or wouldnt spar him or something? I remember Il Duce saying something about Williams bein stitched up or something in Zaire over money with Ali, maybe im gettin it from that. Although Il D/SP knows a lot more than me so i aint gonna completely dismiss it

 

Except you would be wrong ... the thumb was broken and the films show him favoring his left and using the right sparingly ... the thumb was in a cast for months after the bout and he did not fight again for nine months ...

 

Norton bout, correct but his power and snap were limited due to the mini zed range of motion ... not to mention the pain ...

 

I think it was indeed the same book,John. I can't quite believe that Ali would have been scared of Williams,though.

 

Wrong for what? Not believing he had a broken hand? He didnt.

EDIT. May i add that although his thumb was damaged and thats different to a full hand break, its still an admirable feat

 

The handspeed differential between Holmes and Ali is insubstantial, IMO. Holmes had more pop in his shots though, that's for sure.

 

People do overrate Michael Dokes a bit.

 

Both factors are true.

 

I don't know where his hand speed sizes up historically to other heavyweights, but my answer is yes, he did have very fast hands and even foot work for a big man.

 

Out of all the heavyweight champs,Holmes probably had the second fastest footwork. Only Ali's legs were faster.

 

This thread is a ****ing joke just looks like a bunch of sheep posting one after another raising the same exact points.

Last time I checked Ali was bigger than Holmes and he is leagues quicker tha Holmes. James Toney has much faster hands even when weighing 250 pounds ish. The term 'big' heavyweight isn't broad enough for a definitive answer to this thread.

Yes Larry had quick hands, but I've given you two examples in a matter of seconds of 'big' heavyweights that are a lot faster than Larry. Get a grip people and form your own opinions

 

So Tyson isn't a top tier champ, but Patterson is? Or are you really suggesting Larry had quicker hands than Mike?

I expected better of you McGrain.

 

Also if Holmes is considered a big heavyweight does that mean people like Tony Tubbs and Herbie Hide are in consideration, being around that 6'3 region (even though that's the slightest bit above average for a heavyweight since the 70s)

 

No heavyweights were "a lot faster" than Larry.

[yt]oyGrCYcqXxY[/yt]
[yt]6s2rOOocTXs&feature=related[/yt]

Even in his 40s Larry was quicker than most.

[yt]izY9RHhc9Gw[/yt]
[yt]vm16ofSVEnA&feature=relmfu[/yt]