I have never considered Louis and Holmes to have similar styles, other than yeah they're both "technically correct" and they both throw jabs. Chris Byrd is technically correct and he throws jabs too. I wouldn't compare his style to Louis or homes though. But I will go ahead and make time to watch rewatch a few Louis and Holmes over the next few nights, and see if I take away anything differently this time
There are certainly significant differences, but the punches that you would use to counter them are very similar, and very different from punches that you would use to counter Ali.
True, they were both more open to right hands than Ali was. And Schmeling had one of the greatest rights in history.
One of the things that enabled Schmeling to be successful against Louis was his defense, including the way that he positioned himself. First, he rarely was right in front of Louis because he kept his lead foot close to the left foot of Louis. It is hard to open up on a guy in that position because he gets his head outside your left shoulder and your left hook. To land a right hand you have to punch across your body which is a risky thing against a guy looking to land his own right hand, hence the Louis dependance on the jab. Second, when he missed his right hand Schmeling got way over his left leg which took his head out of line for a straight right hand counter. When Louis tried to roll the right hand and counter with a right uppercut, Schmeling used his cross arm defense. His right glove was in a position to block the right uppercut, and his left glove caught the hook when Louis tried to counter to the liver. Would he fight Holmes that way or would it work against Holmes? I don't know. But Larry was not nearly as versatile as Louis in his offense; he was a jab/right hand guy that sometimes showed a right uppercut. The difference could be in how Larry used his feet; if he keeps moving to his left and can get around the lead foot of Schmeling it will make him stand up more.
Style wise Max could compete in this bout. His best strength plays into Larry’s biggest weakness. People short change Max he beat 4 hall of fame boxers. Louis, Sharkey, Stribling, Walker. Actually more than Larry. Not that beating hall of famers is a barometer but Max was good. I’d pick Larry but I think Max shakes him a few times
Its an interesting fight ... I feel Holmes was a class above and wins by decision or possibly a later round TKO .. just too fast and skilled ...
Of course. I don't think Louis jab was anywhere near as fast or busy as Holmes was. Larry was also moving more than Joe. Apples and oranges for me.
I think Schemling turns the trick- staying low was part of the plan to draw the counter, a taller opponent may make his Louis plan more applicable.
You mean fundamentally broken and overly reliant on a few tricks that only work on dumb fighters? There was no master club fighters like Ken Norton who beat? Around in the 30s so I’m sure Holmes would dominate.
