How Highly Would've Rated Larry Holmes Had He Beat......

I already have him at number 3 and beating the men you mentioned wouldn't move him past Ali or Louis. So, for me, it wouldn't have had any effect.

 

me too

 

If he beat 2-3 of them I reckon it might move him up a place. Coetzee, Thomas and Dokes, for instance, are all fighters of ability with something special about them. I have him at #4 right now just behind Lewis. In my opinion the top 5 are a matter of taste and opinion anyway.

 

If he'd beaten all of them and had been successful in recapturing the title in his senior career, I think it might move him above Lennox Lewis on my list.

 

Snap

 

Here's a fun one. What if he'd beaten all of them, beaten Spinks twice, and retired 56-0?

 

Initial reaction without revisiting my analysis - 1, 2, 3 would be a toss up between Louis, Ali and he. Don't think I'd argue however anyone had those 3 ordered, in that instance.

 

I think Holmes would have beaten that group of fighters so does not change my rating of him.

 

Not really? Is this another Larry Holmes ducked everyone thread .....
I'm sure if he fought ALL the guys on the list .. well then there would be the same thread about the guys who he really fought ,,, then now avoided?
He's a top 5 heavy for me,, locked in already in the top 10 , imo.... that doesn't change

 

For me, that may have moved him past Louis but he still would not have had enough wins over great fighters to surpass Ali. If, Holmes did what you said, then beat Tyson and finished 57-0. That may have put him at number one.

 

I think it would have cemented him at #3 for many many people. Plenty have him #3 now, plenty don't. Almost everyone would have had him at #3 including myself. Some would have moved him to #2 behind Ali.

To be nitpicky and lend some experience i'd have a Witherspoon rematch above Tate, Dokes and Coetzee.

A Holmes - Tate unification was in the wind and building but Tate didn't keep up his end of the bargain and thereafter did next to nothing. Doubling down on his win over Weaver once Weaver became champ would have been plenty.

Dokes was champ for 5 minutes and barely legitimately. It would have been a good win at the right time but Dokes lost substantial stock in that Weaver draw. Dokes was also managed by King's son and being lined up for the WBA segment. Obviously it would have ranked miles above Cobb, Rodriguez and co. Via your scenario tho Holmes would have likely been undisputed after the Weaver rematch so all roads would have led to Holmes. Fascinating eventuality that one.

So yeah take Tate out (Coetzee as well if need be to get Timmy in there) and slip Witherspoon 2 in and boom.

 

If he had beaten all of those guys AND gone undefeated I might have him as the GOAT or a very close second at least