Larry Merchant's Top Ten All Time Heavies

Yeah he should prob be around 3

 

Let's see if I can remember my own list. Not much of a list maker, but.....

1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Holmes
4. Lewis
5. Marciano
6. Johnson
7. Dempsey
8. Foreman
9. Tyson
10. Liston

I don't know, something like that.

 

It sure doesn’t look very torn watching it closely in the fight.

 

Of course I see your point, but no one gets awarded points for what they could probably do.

 

16-20.

Wlad has the longevity, just not the quality.

 

It is a fact.

 

Again, hard to say, because Holmes does not have the big wins to back up his head to head reputation.

How many would go life and death with nearly 35 year old Ken Norton?

 

So he claims. It doesn't change the fact that its his best win, and it's not all that great.

I turn the Marciano observation right back around. You are good at demanding the highest levels of achievement form some fighters...others not so much.

We end where we started: Holmes has done NOTHING to merit #2. Out of the question.

 

I generally agree with Larry Merchant on his list

 

Quite a few given Norton's form in that fight.

Its confirmed he gives the treatment he had for it and the Dr who gave it.

I don't rate Holmes at no2, it's not my list, but he is a top ten.

Marciano does not make my top ten ,Tyson ,Lewis,and Holyfield pushed him out.

 

I do not understand all the fuzz about Larry Holmes. To me, he is a lock at N°2. If he is not N°2, he is at least N°3. Let's not forget that Larry got robbed in the rematch with Spinks

 

I can’t say I agree with that, observing the bout.

 

Insane to have Holmes at 2 and Wlad nowhere. Similar careers.

 

43 Years Ago: When Holmes And Norton Went Through Hell; And Gave Us An Incomparable Heavyweight Classic - Latest Boxing News (boxing247.com)

Larry Holmes vs. Ken Norton: Trial by Firefight - The Ring (ringtv.com)

Holmes needed to alter the course of the fight and in round thirteen he did just that. It required nothing novel tactically; the challenger (who, incredibly, was nursing a partially torn left bicep suffered six days prior) brought some snap back to the jab and the openings for the right followed. The momentum shifted as a slowing Norton now appeared vulnerable and Larry beat him to the punch repeatedly, staggering him with a right hand counter a minute into the round and then, for the first time, threatening to force a stoppage as he pounded Ken with a series of flush shots. The crowd roared as Holmes unloaded with both fists and at the bell Norton returned to his corner on unsteady legs.Fight City.

 

I don’t know what the article is supposed to do to alleviate the footage which doesn’t corroborate the claim IMO.