Larry Holmes - June 11th 1982 - The perfect Heavyweight?

He should have grown an Afro!

 

Did that Monstrous psychopath King really threaten to have Holmes legs broken? And did it work? You have some links?
King was beaten up badly by Ali's men when he came to the Bahamas demanding involvement he did not deserve. Hauser's Ali biography tells the tale.

 

I do not think he qualifies for #1, but definitely appearances do not help him.
Part of what you are describing is a relative lack of muscle mass.
If he is truly at least top 5 all time, then this like peak Ali is evidence that being heavily muscled for the division is not necessary.

 

Holmes is fine boxer physique in prime. but as old boxer he look terrible

 

No. He took too much time to KO him.

 

Yes, he wasn't as brisk with his punches, so as a h2h he was diminished. To me he was still peak though. He even looked great in the Cobb fight...I dont see any champs since beating even that Holmes. It was quite shortly after this he declined (though I still see the guy who beat Spoon as an amazing fighter...that was an entertaining fight imo).

 

I think a sign that Larry had eroded a bit is his bad judgement in letting Gerry off the hook in round 2. He had him, age made him too cautious.

 

Cooney defence has always been poor. Holmes didnt believe he might close the case soon. He adopted a too defensive style in the prime rounds. He was too cautious.

 

I think the beating Tyson took off Douglas is exaggerated.

 

Yeah in fact he didnt use well the jab as he did in other circumstances. Might be also he had too pressure above him because of the fact most of the people of those times wanted he lost that fight.
Holmes was disliked by many for the way he had treated Ali.
Besides Cooney was considered the "White Hope" both by a large number journalists and common people.

 

I don't have a link but I saw Larry himself talk about it in an interview. It might be in Newfield's book Only in America about King but not 100% on that.