Prime Larry Holmes vs. Prime George Foreman.

The other thing is body punishment & the effects. I sure didn't like the way Larry showed the effects of Norton's shots. Kenny's lagging that back leg type of footwork should have seen him a step and a half away from a young Holmes the whole fight. I thought going in against old Norton it'd be a shutout and similar to the Shavers #1 bout with Holmes turning him all night and coasting to an easy win. Piece of cake and it certainly was the beginning of the fight. but that bodywork really slowed that lateral movement down a ton. And then he had to trade and had to fight Norton off of him.

Nobody took a better body punch than Ali but everyone seems to think they can rope a dope Foreman. They can't. Ali took a better punch downstairs than he did upstairs. Truly incredible when you think about it.

The other big factor I like George to capitalize on is his finishing ability. Holmes escaped some guys when he was hurt bad, but the only finisher---I think anyway---he fought was Tyson. Foreman won't let him through the cracks once hurt. It's not punching power but finishing ability that matters against a Larry Holmes. The reverse is true as well---it's going to take a finisher to get rid of Foreman.

The biggest plus for me for the Holmes chances is, by far, the fact he's hard to hit with uppercuts. You have to take those uppercuts--with both hands-- away from Foreman. As important as it is for George to get him off that pitchers mound, it is equally important for Larry to avoid those uppercuts. I thought when forced to the ropes, Larry did become far more vulnerable to uppercuts than when he was in ring center. Pretty much impossible to hit Holmes in ring center w/ uppercuts. But ring center at all times against a Foreman is simply a ton of footwork. I do not think he can turn George. and I don't think he can just circle & peck away like he did with so many of those plodders he faced.

I also think Foreman shoves that shoulder or jabs the inside of it effectively against Holmes. What a trick and extremely effective thing to do. If successful, he'll square him up and twist that torso just like he did to Frazier & Norton.

 

That's a great insightful post.

 

Well one way or another, the victor in the bout is going to have to dig deep. Plus, he will have to use every one of his resources in there. Both guys do things the opponent does not like at all. Both prefer a different style to look their absolute best against as well. Neither goes 3-0 in a three bout series.

 

Tough call. Larry had the style to beat Foreman, but Foreman is another level of greatness. I honestly think Larry would have a much tougher time against 80's-90's Foreman, who learned to relax and not blow himself out.

Foreman by a hair.

 

50/50 fight. Can make a solid argument for both sides. I would not put a cent on this fight

 

I like Larry by decision, but he probably has to survive some rocky moments.

 

George had no head movement, and his habit of warding punches off with his gloves only really works against hookers straight punches found the target.

 

But Foreman is your favorite and you hate Larry Holmes. Que Pasa?

 

The other thing with Ali & the so-called rope a dope is the skillset of Ali.

He was leaning back what, 10 or 20% from his customary boxing position? But he had that great balance and could not only cover up but effectively punch from that position and that new angle. Extremely accurately. Real nice straight right hands while leaning like that. How many other heavies can punch from an angle like that? If they even tried, they'd fall in. Not Ali. Really incredible. He absorbs and plays defense and then punches out of that position. Other guys at best, can play defense. But they cannot do the offense. And Muhammad made it look easy and simple, against a strong favorite folks were expecting to mow him down.

 

Both guys parried punches as their defense. What Foreman did was to walk through whatever opponents threw at him. So he did not move his head because he wanted and sought out exchanges. It was Holmes that did not look to exchange.

 

Larry had head movement George did not.

 

[QUOTE
="Mendoza, post: 19366218, member: 19227"]Holmes would beat Foreman the same as Jimmy Young did, or like Ali did without taking those body shots on the ropes.

Foreman and Holmes had chances to meet in the 1990's. Foreman always declined.[/QUOTE]




Jimmy Young was very slick in the ring, In fact it was said by Joe Louis" he can run but he cant hide" well Young could hide in the ring. Young was a sparring partner for many tough fighters and thrown in with lions young in his career but improved under the pressure. Still when Foreman caught the elusive Young in (i believe the 7th round it almost ended the fight. Holmes was much easier to hit with right hands than Young and Holmes was not the defensive fighter Young was. Snipes & Shavers and a 18-9 club fighter Weaver almost took Holmes out and later Tyson did with right hands, nothing is written in stone but Holmes would have to fight the perfect fight to survive Foreman's right hands.


As far as Holmes wanting to fight George =Holmes was not even fighting the best heavyweights of his day avoiding the best hiding behind split titles (which he caused by giving up a titile not to fight Greg Page) when Foreman came back < Holmes was already not Champion and no one expected Big George at his age to make it, thats when Larry started barking for a fight but George wanted the Holyfields or the fighters he could make money with & get a title, he didnt need to elevate Holmes because there were better money fights out there. By the way Foreman in his comeback took more chances than Larry did as champ.

 

Foreman would go to his body. The only guy Holmes fought with a sustained body attack was Norton and Tyson. And Mike was a much better finisher than Norton was. But all Mike did was throw right hands to the body the first 3 rounds. 4th round he comes upstairs and Holmes was already dropping those hands protecting the body. Whole different fight protecting body and head as opposed to the headhunters.

It was Holmes that did not sign the contract for the bout when proposed in 1977. It went to his stablemate instead & the payday was 40x higher than his biggest payday to date.

 

Foreman via mid round stoppage. Best jabber vs a power punching, ring cutting, jab denying monster.

 

It is the proof about i am not biased