I did this one eight years ago as one of my first ever threads on here but a lot of new posters have joined us since then. My revival of it was inspired by the recent peak Holmes v various versions of post exile Ali thread. The Ali of Zaire v Holmes of the Cooney fight.
This wasn't prime Ali speed demon before exile. Norton out boxed and out jabbed Ali imagine what Holmes would do . Holmes on points.
I've mulled over this one since it went up, and still not 100 %certain but I think it would be in holmes favour. I just think the pounding jab, the sharp right and solid chin place him as Ali's toughest fight. The 82 holmes was good enough I believe to out jab, out work this version of Ali to a tight decision.
82 Holmes should win a clear unanimous decision, be it over 12 or 15 rounds. Still at or near his prime, he not only has the physical tools to do the job but also the knowledge and mental fortitude, having been one of 74 Ali's chief sparring partners around that period. So I can see Holmes winning a clear decision ...... only to be robbed by the judges when the decision is announced. Unlike Holmes, they have been fooled by Ali's bigger than life personality and the mind games and kidology that Ali uses during the bout.
Any version of Holmes would prove difficult for Ali bc the jab will win this fight most of the time and Holmes had the sharper more accurate jab and also while he didnt look as fancy he was harder to hit bc he just stuck to a certain punch for a certain fighter,and that was either just jabs/lead right hands basically...he did little combos of mixing htings up and saw what hit his opponent more and relied on it. however the jab is all you need to shut ali down,Holmes could still throw lead right hands better worker of head to body/body to head combos.... I think 1974 ali COULD beat 1982 Holmes though but the illegal tactics of head holding and referre leaniancy has to be in place,i really dont think he out sharp shoots Holmes who also had a great chin. Personally i think both guys became better fighters as they aged! I would call Slight Edge for Ali bc he did have that movement and knew Holmes and could MAYBE grind a decision win where he has to abandon the jab and go Frazier style and fight mid range in a grab and hit scenerio, i dont beleive ali would try and out jab Holmes he knew what he could and cant do in sparring ,he would get away with more bc Holmes was not a power puncher and himself liked long length range fights but ali was more crafty on the inside in those years you are giving here. Ali by a hair.
As long as the judges score the fight fairly I see Holmes 9-6. Then again with Ali's popularity and larger than life persona he very well may get a gift from the judges.
During the one year period ending with his ko of Foreman Ali also beat Norton and Frazier. That Ali would box rings around the Holmes that fought Cooney. Ali was a greater fighter than Holmes up to his win over Frazier in 75. Past that time Holmes would beat Ali.
I'd favor the Ali from 1965 to 1967 to win a close decision over a prime Holmes. He was very clearly the faster of the two fighters, equally durable, equally skilled, and with the same amount of height and reach. I don't see Holmes as having any real advantage with THAT version of Muhammad. But after the exhile from boxing, the Ali of the seventies had lost a bit of speed and couldn't move in high gear for 15 strait rounds anymore. He began finding ways to slow down and take breaks and where possible and was a little bit easier to hit. He'd have to be at 100% to outpoint the Holmes of 1978-1982 and even at 100% it would still be a close fight and quite possibly his toughest foe.
Most feel he lost to Norton in that rubber match. Joe Frazier was past his best and Muhammad came within an inch of quitting. He told his corner to cut the tape off and remove his gloves when by the grace of God, Joe's corner threw in the towel first. And George Foreman had nothing in common with Holmes. He lost that fight because he ran out of gas. Not gonna happen with Holmes.. I would pick the late 60's version of Ali to take a decision over Larry but by the mid 70's there's no way it's happening..
A close decision either way. Probably Holmes would be more consistent, while Ali would fight in spurts. I'll go with Holmes 9-6.
Ali would win a close decision. He wasn't the fighter he had been in the 60s but he was still faster of both hand and foot than Larry Holmes. In 1982 Holmes was also a shade past his physical peak. Their jabs would cancel each other out IMO. I believe Ali threw better combos or flurries. It would be a tactical fight but the quicker man would win IMO.
