What did Larry Holmes do better than Muhammad Ali?

Uppercut, better infighting, better pressuring, I think that's it.

 

Business & personal finances. Just about nothing in the ring, perhaps jabbing, uppercut & power punching - perhaps. Although a great fighter & not a true carbon copy of Ali, he is very much the poor man’s version of that same basic mould of boxer.

 

Was always in shape.

 

Some guys just have lousy genetics, no matter what they do. Frazier was never chiseled despite the best motor in the business & Holmes looked like a rotting pear.

 

More powerful, better jab and was better on the inside.

 

Yes

 

It’s diet not genes.

 

Plenty, Ali also did plenty better - similar styles but not too much alike. Holmes was a better body puncher, he had a better jab and understood how to apply it better, he aged better, was a smarter fighter and knew how to go for the body, he had a decent uppercut and a more cagey, fundamental defence - Larry Holmes was a meaner, rougher guy who didn’t leave the pasture to avoid punches “The Homer” was a better boxer with worse competition IMO, Ali did have a bit of magic to him that made him a better fighter doe.

 

Jab and uppercut.

 

I would typically agree with this - for virtually everyone in life, that is demonstrably true. But for elite athletes at the highest level, how else do we explain guys like these? Holmes & Frazier had plenty of fights where they were in top shape & performed accordingly. Yet you wouldn’t want either of their physiques if it came with a million dollar sign on bonus.

 

They had excess weight to lose to look “chiseled” which just means they ate too much and didn’t move enough, tip top condition or not it’s just the way it is. It just isn’t necessary to get rid of the extra fat especially for a heavyweight, it doesn’t mean anything, they’re comfortable with it in the ring. if you don’t have enough muscle / bad fat storage spots it looks terrible for some till they get pretty low in there body fat % I don’t think either Holmes or Frazier had a trace of abdominals or much definition in general so they had pounds to lose end of… that is if there goal was to look “pretty” Holmes looked like he wouldn’t see his abs till he was probably 190-200lbs lol.