Underrated reason why Holmes was the best of his era

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Devon, Oct 11, 2024.


  1. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Discipline, think about it, Holmes lived the life of a true athlete, sacrifice, there were other decent fighters in that era, but succumbed to their desires, Dokes: Drugs, Pinklon Thomas: Drugs, Cooney: Alcohol, Page: food, Witherspoon: Food.
    Holmes was one of the only ones who made the sacrifices necessary to be the best version you can be, and that may have actually made the difference over having one great night of boxing or having a great career.
     
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  2. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I mean, isn't that just accepted knowledge? There were others with as much raw talent as him. He just happened to be the only stable, consistent one without self destructive tendencies.
     
  3. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    I've been saying that since I've been here. It's blatantly obvious.

    It's not that he lacked talent, he had plenty, but the guys around him that had talent as well self sabotaged on a regular basis. It takes more than talent to be a great fighter.
     
  4. Kid Bacon

    Kid Bacon All-Time-Fat Full Member

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    Well, I agree.

    That also shows how the current HW era sucks by comparison.

    Think how a half cooked, drunk, fat, lazy, undisciplined Tyson Fury "dominated" the HW division for years, until he crossed paths with a guy who takes boxing seriously...
     
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  5. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Mental strength .. Holmes survived the abuse and manipulation of the Don King era when so many gave in and gave up ... he didn't turn to drugs or any other default ... he hung in.
     
  6. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    So he cleared the lowest bar possible for greatness, & had the extraordinary good fortune to be in a (upto that point) rare era where his contemporaries didn’t.
     
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  7. Kid Bacon

    Kid Bacon All-Time-Fat Full Member

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    Larry was a sort of transitional bridge between late 70s and late 80s, a period where in comparative terms there was less competition.

    But It doesnt mean Larry was just a lucky dog who hit the only era where he could possibly become Champion.

    IMO had Larry fought in the late 60s - early 70s there is a fair chance he becomes champion at least for a while. Larry in the 50s has an even bigger chance of being champion.

    And in the current mediocre era Larry would be a multiple belts champion hands down.
     
  8. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Your gimmick is getting tiresome.

    Find some new material.
     
  9. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I notice you didn’t opt for, “You’re wrong.”
     
  10. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Like a lot of great fighters, he has become inflated to illogical heights. I couldn’t disagree with any of your points here, though.
     
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  11. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Agree... it's boring at this point. The personal hatred is so over the top it's ridiculous and childlike
     
  12. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yet accurate & factually responsible.
     
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  13. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Not even a little bit
     
  14. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Barrios is a bandit robber - Psalm 144:1 Full Member

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    You’d think he’d go after all the countless criminals and genuinely terrible people in boxing with his whining but instead he goes for a straight shooter, best of his era, good guy who loves the fans lol.
     
  15. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Larry was a professional. Period.

    Reasonable people can disagree (hopefully without being disagreeable) on his historical standing.

    I’ve spoken my piece that I think only Ali and Louis were better.