If Larry Holmes Had Being Prime In the Early 70 s..?

He beats Foreman I think Holmes matches up well vs Foreman.

He could beat Ali depending on what version of Ali, but I think best version of Ali in 70s aka vs Norton 2 outpoints Holmes.

Overall I think the best fighter he could beat is Foreman for me.

 

Agreed Dynamic.It's that old question of styles.Holmes might have some sort of
chance against Ali but I would still expect Ali to win on points.
I could see Larry outboxing Foreman,as you say Foreman would be the right opponent
for Holmes.However,if there's one ATG in history that Larry should avoid it's Smokin'Joe Frazier.

 

Yeah I've always thought Fraziers swarming style is a bad match for Holmes, for me it would look like Norton vs Holmes with Holmes having the edge early, but Frazier would grind him down in the 2nd half of the fight and win a decision or possibly late stoppage.

 

Loses to the big three. Beats everyone else.

 

I love Holmes. But, if he was prime in that era it would not have worked out as well for him. He would have certainly beaten some top contenders, but, he might not have ever been crowned a champion.

 

He would beat Foreman. 50/50 with Frazier. Would win 2/3 with Norton and 1/3 with Ali - he would win the first fight but Ali would approach rematch in "Norton 2" shape.

 

Stops Foreman in 10, loses by decision to Frazier, (1971-1974) Ali, and quite possibly Norton. Beats all of the above in mid to late 70s rematches.

Probably wins the title from George in 73, loses to Ali first defense, wins it back from him. I think he'd run into trouble age-wise by the time Spoon came up and would probably lose it to him after a hard fought and long 2nd reign.

 

I think Holmes had some of the best dedication the sport has ever seen. He plausibly beats everyone including the Big 3. Maybe he doesn't go undefeated the entire way but I think Holmes beats them more often than not.

Ali, Foreman and Frazier would prove difficult but if anyone can win the series it would be Larry Legend. Of course other top fighters like Norton, Quarry, Lyle, Shavers, Young etc. would be punishing to run the gamut.

 

Very surprised everyone seems to think he's going to outbox Foreman just like that because of "styles lolz". Holmes was not nearly as mobile as Ali, didn't have as good a chin as Ali, didn't have Ali's ring IQ, Ali's speed, nor even Ali's (when he planted his feet) power.

He struggled greatly with the 18-9 Mike Weaver, Renaldo Snipes (who dropped him and had him in a BAD way) who would in his next fight draw with..... Scott Frank (who?) and only win 1 out of his next 6, dropping a decision to Alfredo Evangelista.

But I'm supposed to believe Holmes is going to effortlessly outbox Foreman a top 5-10 ATG just like that, when he rarely did so against the mediocre opposition he actually did face?

Color me skeptical.

 

I agree. While i do pick Holmes over Foreman I've always been amazed how posters claim it's a for sure thing. It's not! It's a harrowing bout between them.

Maybe the Jimmy Young bout has swayed the public's opinion?

 

I think he could have beaten most of the division. I’m a bit skeptical about a prime Norton though

 

Larry agrees. Once asked how a fighter could beat him, he responded "turn into Joe Frazier".