I think you are a great guy and poster. I admire posters who are not afraid to beak with tradition, good man.
I also see Frazier winning a tough fight. Here's why. Ali may not have had the blazing foot speed he had prior to his forced excile, but in the FOTC his hands were still faster than Holmes, he also had a much more diverse set of punches, and a better combo puncher. Holmes may have had a better overall jab than Ali, but it wasn't as fast, notice how many jabs Frazier slipped in the FOTC. AT one point of the fight Frazier dropped both hands to mock him, yet Ali didn't hit him once with a series a lightning quick jabs. He made him miss with simple head movement. Holmes would find it very hard to land his jab on Frazier prime vs prime just as the faster Ali did. Factor in Frazier's ability to counter so quickly off a slipped jab, or right hand. Frazier's relentless pressure, and ability to close the distance also would be a major issue for Holmes. What happens when Frazier's relentlessness pressure nullifies Holmes jab because he's so close? Could Holmes keep Frazier at the distance he likes? Without his atg jab, what other weapon does Holmes have to keep Frazier honest. Holmes used a beautiful and powerful right uppercut, but would it be enough? No it probably wouldn't, though I don't believe Frazier stops Holmes, I do believe he'd beat him more convincingly than he beat Ali prime vs prime. Holmes maybe the greater fighter overall, this fight would come down to how their styles messed.
I think a top five rating is reasonable. He was a fairly stable champion who had 19 title fight wins and beat some fairly good fighters. His falling short of 49-0 and failing to face a few of his mandatories is what keeps him outside top three for me.
He would have been fun as champ. Even if just for a few months. I always felt a bit sorry for Larry having to come right after the Ali era like he did. And also for having to beat Ali. It was a no-win situation in both situations. And then for a good long while, almost forgotten about when Tyson came along.
He was the Ezzard Charles of his day really. Charles beating the old popular champion then losing to the younger, hard hitting guy.
His backstory is not unlike Ezzard Charles in a way, both came after to great champs, and suffered in comparison, both could be perceived as a bit workmanlike and without much flair, not fair really but as we know fight fans are fickle, the legacy is that when I am asked the greats of HW boxing, his name does not spring to lips as it rightly should. Where do I have him ? around 4/5 . keep well.
He didn't, it's true, but in typical Holmesian fashion, he simply pretended otherwise and still came through like a boss. I often wonder what would happen if Holmes and Pryor switched staches. I spent years thinking about it. It kept me up some nights, listening to the cold, howling winds, candle by my bed, an unread book at my chest, staring restlessly into the abyss of my bedroom. Alone.