Who beats Larry Holmes of the Norton Fight?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Jun 5, 2018.


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  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    One of the greatest heavyweight title fights ever imo, the night Larry Holmes battled Norton. I believe you'd have had to shoot Holmes to stop him winning ,such was his determination .
    Who in your opinion ,in place of Kenny ,could defeat Holmes ?
     
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
    #1
  2. Combatesdeboxeo_

    Combatesdeboxeo_ Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Seriously? A peak 74 norton beats him, tyson would kill him, 70-71 joe frazier beats him, prime ali 66-67 beats him, joe louis from 1937-38 or so would stoop him Sonny liston beats him.A peak foreman,lewis,marciano, evander would have a good chance to beat him, the klitschko brothers too
     
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Jun 5, 2018
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Jun 5, 2018
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  3. Ragamuffin

    Ragamuffin Active Member Full Member

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    I go along with most of your post, bar Frazier and Marciano. Yes, the Norton that faced Foreman, first time around champ Foreman, and Tyson all day.
     
    Ragamuffin, Jun 5, 2018
    Ragamuffin, Jun 5, 2018
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  4. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    No one
     
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2018
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2018
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  5. Combatesdeboxeo_

    Combatesdeboxeo_ Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Lol sure
     
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Jun 5, 2018
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Jun 5, 2018
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  6. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Not many imo. Holmes was terrific that night. I think because Holmes struggled to the win (although I thought it was a lot clearer than the scorecards had it) and Norton got walloped by Foreman, Shavers and Cooney might mean that other punchers would have had the same effect on Holmes. But Holmes was much more resistant to power punchers than Norton.

    To my mind there are only a handful of fighters who could've beaten Holmes that night - Ali was one, maybe a Lewis on top of his game is another and arguably the other Louis was the third.

    Other than that, I think it's highly debatable anyone else would have.
     
    Jel, Jun 5, 2018
    Jel, Jun 5, 2018
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  7. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Good post. I'll agree to maybe Louis and Ali but not Lennox Lewis. Never
     
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2018
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2018
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  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I think Holmes is a greater heavyweight than Lewis but Lewis is one of those who in a head to head, is a tough one.

    The edge I think Holmes had is he was probably a more consistent performer so I'd favour him over Lewis 2 times out of 3. But I think the best version of Lewis would have a good chance of beating Holmes.
     
    Jel, Jun 5, 2018
    Jel, Jun 5, 2018
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  9. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Going by their fight you'd think so .But I think Kenny always gives Larry a hard fight ,similar to as he did Ali.He'd maybe not beat Larry Evey fight in his younger days but give him hell .A styles thing I believe.
     
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
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  10. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Jel ,spot on. I don't believe many beat Larry at all .I'd favour him over Foreman and Frazier. As well as Tyson and Holy .He'd defeat either K brothers to in my opinion. A young Ali I have defeating him .Lennox' would a tough one to get round ,I'd give em each a win in two fights between them. Louis is dangerous all the way through but not positive that I'd favour the brown bomber totally.
     
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
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  11. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I'm rethinking the Lewis thing - if it's one fight, then I pick Holmes. Lewis would be dangerous for sure but I have more confidence in Holmes as a fighter than Lewis, so that just leaves Ali and Louis who I think could have beaten that version of Holmes.

    Someone else said a younger Norton - good call. Sometimes a fighter's style is just hard to overcome and I think that was the case with Norton for Holmes. How else do you explain Norton giving Ali and Holmes hell but getting blown out by Foreman and Shavers? Styles make fights is truly a truism that remains true!
     
    Jel, Jun 5, 2018
    Jel, Jun 5, 2018
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  12. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    It is in boxing for sure. But yep ,Kenny is always pushing Larry to the limits. In a series of fight s between Holmes and a young Ken I believe the result s are wafer thin. Even though Holmes is the better fighter Norton would have his chances.
    As for Lennox ,that's a tough one .I don't see Larry getting stopped but I reckon Holmes could be dropped at least once .
    But Holmes always fired back and if he hurt Lewis then we'd discover more about Lenny than we know about Holmes. But yes ,you have to say that Larry has a great shot at beating him.
    The only one I pick with confidence is a young Muhammad /clay .And even then I don't see a easy fight for Ali .
     
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
    Fergy, Jun 5, 2018
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  13. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    I know a lot of people will likely disagree with me on this, but...

    If we could theoretically gather peak versions of the top 15 or so heavyweights of all time, and have them participate in a round robin - Larry would be my odds-on favorite to emerge from such a tournament with the highest number of total victories. I think Larry is a tough match-up for any heavyweight in history, including Ali, whom I always believe would have had a great deal of difficulty being effective against Holmes.
     
    Rumsfeld, Jun 6, 2018
    Rumsfeld, Jun 6, 2018
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  14. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Larry at his damn Best ,firing on all guns is a hard man to beat .I have him beating the modern day super heavys as well .
     
    Fergy, Jun 6, 2018
    Fergy, Jun 6, 2018
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  15. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    Quite a lot of people considering that version of Holmes was fighting with a severely injured arm. Foreman, Liston, Frazier, Ali, Dempsey, Marciano (though I believe Holmes at 100% would beat Marciano), just to name a few.
     
    swagdelfadeel, Jun 6, 2018
    swagdelfadeel, Jun 6, 2018
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