Larry Holmes Had Better Fundamentals Than Ali

Holmes was 42 when he fought Mercer. Ali turned 42 in 1984 which was more than five years after his final win. No he would not have beaten Mercer when he was 42. All of that being said, I am not sure what your point of the post is or how the 42 year old versions of Holmes and Ali relate to their fundamentals. Lastly, many fighters had better fundamentals than Ali.

 

Ali beat Norton in late 1976 and Shavers in late 1977. I figure that if he took the fight seriously he would have beaten Mercer during that time frame.

 

IMO this comparison is not fair.
Muhammad Ali was great and then had a career break between the ages of 25 and 28.5. It certainly must, and it left its mark on him.
But I think Larry Holmes has better fundamentals.

 

Liston (Yes even that version of Liston) also had better technique and fundamentals than Ali. Served him real well when it actually mattered.

 

Another couple things, Ali's jab was superior to Holmes according to Norton (who also said Ali hit harder as did Shavers). Even post-exiles jab was faster, but more importantly it was also far more versatile. He had the ability to change the direction of the jab after throwing it, which Holmes lacked and one of the reasons I think Holmes would have an awful lot more trouble with Frazier than Ali did. Frazier would find it much easier to slip and counter.

I agree Holmes fought MORE on the inside, and went to the body more, but imo, when Ali did these things (which I concede was pretty rare), he looked better doing it imo.

His body work, played a large part in his demolishment of Williams. I've always thought he specifically targeted the body of Williams with that near-fatal shooting on his mind.

Their were some very decent inside exchanges on Ali's part in TFOTC, some he got the better of which wouldn't be possible if his inside game and body work was as non-existent as made out to be.

 

KO: You also exchanged jabs with three of the greatest jabbers of all time: Ali, Foreman, and Holmes.
Who was the best?

KN: Ali. His jab was quick and it was deceptive. Ali was Ali. His combinations were crisp and sharp. His jab was crisp and sharp. His right hand lead wasn't really powerful, but it was very accurate. There will never be another Ali.

Alfredo Evangelista
BEST JAB
Muhammad Ali: No doubt about it. Larry Holmes had a good jab too, but Ali was the best.

 

The most significant part imo, is Norton and Evangelista faced a post-exile Ali, and the latter faced a shot version, so the fact they still considered Ali superior is telling.

 

As has been said,many posessed better fundamentals than Muhammad but he had the ability,nerve and brilliant boxing brain to overcome them.

 

But they both did better vs Ali, so not really.

 

Spot on. Ali was always going to get hit a lot in his mid-30s if he carried on, as legs & reflex were big factors in evading blows, just likes Jones Jnr was. Holmes- and someone like Hopkins- had those greater fundamentals to compete for a longer period.

To me, it's a case of "you have to box for your life" whose jab do you want...and it'd be Larry's. No doubt. Well, it'd be probably be someone like Lewis' overall (due to its extra power as well as accuracy).

 

Neither were anything to talk about on the inside, neither was a real body puncher. Larry was more fundamental in general and understood the jab better, also a much better defence IMO but I think Ali had him beat fighting off the ropes- a straighter right? I do think Larry was slicker and got hit less on the ropes and the inside, much less really. Muhammad’s strength was between his ears- not his legs, those didn’t serve him when it was important, that waltzing and jabbing stuff is all show. Both were very rough and rugged- had tons of heart but Ali was made of cement, waist up and toughed it out and it was always non negotiable. I’m putting a lot of feathers in the Homers cap but I think Ali is a better fighter.

 

If the stories about some of his all-night, multi woman, "romantic" escapades are true, he must have been pretty strong between his legs too.