Holmes rates himself as #1 & Says he'd have beaten prime Muhammad Ali

Prime Ali was the far greater fighter. Much more fluid with his movement, much quicker, much better combination puncher. Ali would be able to hit Holmes at angles as he moved very quickly side to side. Right hands over Holmes low and dropped jab would be a major weapon. Ali by unanimous decision 10-5 in rounds.

 

Wouldn't surprise me a bit if he would've

 

I would expect an All Time Great Heavyweight Champion like Larry Holmes to believe he could beat anyone. Holmes is a legend. One of the elite fighters ever to hold the crown. He had the tools to make it interesting.

 

Holmes was always filled with a high amount of and well deserved level of confidence. On a TV show in I think from 1989. Larry says about the samething and names the one champion who would've given him the most trouble.

https://streamable.com/eiave

From this video:

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He names Jack Johnson. The reason being is when he was Ali's sparring partner Bundini nicknamed him Big Jack, because he was tall, slender, and had skinny legs. Supposedly like the great Jack Johnson.

 

That was from The Champions Forever documentary.

 

I think Holmes would have given Ali fits, too. It's quite possible for him to have beaten him.

 

It would have been a hard fight for ALI against Holmes. Great jab, solid right, excellent chin. I see Holmes taking the 70 s version of Ali right to the wire. Perhaps in a series of fight s Holmes maybe wins more than Muhammad. The young 60 s version of Ali, I see him moving round, jabbing and Holmes been caught constantly. Unable to get anything going Holmes loses by a unanimous. The young Ali I pick against most atg s to be honest.

 

I think Holmes is being a bit facetious here. His jab was better than Ali's imo.

 

Top 5 for me!

 

Ali would have timed him all night with the lead right. I can recall Ali being crafty in their actual bout, he was completely shot but tried to land a lead right hand. He fell slightly short but you could still see a little sparkle in there. It was sad to see the timing gone but still left a reminder of what was once there.

 

He did try and utilise the lead right,that was about the most miserable night I ever spent watching a closed circuit fight. Holmes and Lewis give Ali the most problems imo.

 

I'd expect nothing less from Holmes. Total belief in himself always, a big ego and the skill to back it up.

I have him 3rd and also see him and Lewis as the biggest threats to Ali. But 60's Ali betters him, probably convincingly.