Is this forum overrating Larry Holmes?

He’s arguably the best pure boxer in history, pound for pound.

 

Always has

 

Or me, very accomplished fighter, would have given all the top 3/4 where ever you put them a hards night work, following Ali was difficult, and the biternest showed sometimes, he has over the years, been quite rightly recognised as a fine craftsman, aligned with heart and courage.
stay safe guys.

 

Agree with everything bar the words highlighted. There are a few absent names - Thomas, Page come to mind - as Larry settled for lower risk, higher financial reward as his reign entered its final third. He'd earned that right with some of his earlier defences and fighting the likes of Tim Witherspoon and Bonecrusher was hardly going for a walk in the park. It was an impressive reign which stopped slightly short of cleaning out the division.

The eye test, rather than who he fought, tells me that Larry gives anyone a hard night. I don't know if he's over or underrated on the forum as I don't really follow what people say about him enough. But if he's generally considered anywhere in the top 5-10, I think we're getting it right, by and large. I wouldn't have a massive beef with anyone rating him a notch or two higher, though that wouldn't be my opinion. Rating him lower than 10 would raise an eyebrow, though.

 

I think you could also argue Liston 1 for Ali and substitute Cooney for (that version of) Norton but I get your point and excellent post.

 

Holmes was the perfect heavyweight. I only see Ali and Louis as clear superiors.

 

What the ****? Are you kidding me? He defeated Ray Mercer. A very young, undefeated fighter who was coming off a big knockout win over Tommy Morrison. Not to mention that Mercer was the f__king WBO champ! Larry, who look like a crippled and fragile 40 year old f__king schooled him! Made him look like easy work even joking around while fighting. IMO that's his career best win.

And to everybody who discredit Larry because he beat an old Norton is horrendously dumb. Norton was the WBC champ who just beat Jimmy Young prior to winning the title. Yeah past his best, but is still somewhat great shape. You have to also consider Larry too, I don't think Larry respectfully reach is peak yet at the time, and fighting Norton who is superior in terms of experience. He also overcame stylistic disadvantages, the cross guard. He even beat other two fighters who is very good with cross guard too. In conclusion, old fighters are way better than how most people view them.

He made 17 title defenses, beating a lot of names such as Earnie Shavers, Mike Weaver, James Smith, Trevor Berbick, Undefeated Ossie Ocassio, Undefeated Gerry Cooney, Undefeated Renaldo Snipes, Undefeated Tim Witherspoon, Undefeated Car Williams, Undefeated David Bey,Undefeated Leroy Jones and beat Roy Tiger Williams before becoming champ. He even beat some underappreciated names such Alfredo Evangelista, Lorenzo Zanon, Randy Tex Cobb and Leon Spinks.

Past his prime he arguably beaten Michael Spinks in the rematch and arguably beaten Oliver McCall.

His h2h ability is extremely amazing too. Good jab, Good power, all around boxer puncher, excellent defense, unshakable chin and high ring IQ. Never lost until age caught up with him. Got up from atomic bombs. For being a mover, his punches were more solid than Ali's.

 

Don’t think I’ve ever seen Dempsey or Marciano rated #1 on contemporary lists. I remember him being the consensus number one up until the arrival of Louis which spawned a (virtually non-existent today) debate regarding who was superior between the 2.

 

Pretty much seen as top 5 which seems fair to me.

 

Can easy put him third, behind the two big guns, Ali and Louis.

 

No .. but its sure flooding the " forum " with more Larry Holmes is overrated threads

 

It’s interesting because I hardly ever see Holmes mentioned, especially in the general. Usually everyone rates the obvious ATG heavys like Tyson, Lewis, Holyfield, Ali, Foreman, some mentions about Frazier and from there almost all the other great heavys hardly get mentioned. I always thought of Holmes as the forgotten great heavyweight. It’s too bad because he has a great resume and nearly broke Marciano’s record!

 

I've never rated Holmes.

 

I think he gets a bit overrated H2H but that's all opinion based at any rate. You can argue him anywhere from #3 to the bottom area of the ten historically.

 

He did. So near, yet so far.