Who's more skilled: Ali or Holmes?

When looking at the entirety of boxing history Ali has plenty of competition in regards to heavyweight speed but he is probably the most skilled speedster in heavyweight history. Michael Dokes was pretty fast

 

I always thought Holmes was like a more technically proficient but less athletic Ali. He took a lot of the tricks that the mid to late 70s Ali had and built upon them throughout his career, while also being more efficient with his movement, better on the inside, a better body puncher, having more layers to his defense, and more punches in his arsenal. He was also better at fighting on the front foot.

 

Skill is the ability to do something well, especially due to having practiced it.

In boxing that is everything and anything that hinders your opponent and results in winning boxing matches.

 

If Ali-Shavers is this great robbery why did AP have it 10-5 Ali and UPI have it 8-6-1 Ali? Ed Schuyler who covered that fight and other fights for AP and is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his writing had no problem scoring fights against Ali . As to the Spinks debacle Shaquille O'Neal was getting outplayed by Joel Anthony in the 2010-2011 Heat-Celtics playoffs. Geez, I wonder what LVH Ali and that iteration of Shaq had in common.

 

IMO Ali had certain skills Holmes didn't.

Ali could lead with the right hand as he did vs Foreman which in itself is an enormous skill.

How Ali Dismantled Southpaws - Fight & Technique Breakdown

He could also figure out new styles as the fight progressed. When he fought Mildenberger, it was the first southpaw he had ever fought and he managed to make on the fly adjustments. The ability to make those adjustments mid fight is itself an amazing skill. Holmes never fought a southpaw and IMO Holmes did not have the ability to make mid fight adjustments as well as Ali.

 

Ali clearly won the Shavers fight. Some folks really try and grasp at straws to downplay Ali.

 

I did a poll, who is more skilled, not necessarily who would win: George Foreman or Floyd Patterson. Floyd was winning that poll 18-0. If i would have asked who would win the results would be reversed. Skill =/= better

 

Maybe Foreman was better because he was bigger, stronger.
If Patterson was 6'3 and 225 pounds, we'd see a difference.

(Having said that Foreman was skillful too. He was very good at trapping his opponent in the ropes or a corner or moving an opponent to the right place to get hit hard. )

 

He likely wouldn't use the peekaboo. When you're small fight small. When you're tall, fight tall.

 

I rather have God Given talent. Roy Jones Jr. clowned and nearly shut out the "uber skilled", "Master of the Philly Shell" or "Michigan Defense" James Toney. IMHO it was only marginally more competitive than Holmes- Cobb or De La Hoya-Camacho.

 

Past it Norton vs prime Holmes

Past it Ali vs prime Norton

Lol, don't act like Holmes didn't have a close call, I wouldn't say he figured Norton out if you don't think Ali did in the 2 rematches

 

Larry Holmes 209 lbs beat Ken Norton 220 lbs by SD in round 15 of 15

• Date: 1978-06-09
• Location: Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
• Referee: Mills Lane
• Judge: Harold Buck 143-142
• Judge: Lou Tabat 142-143
• Judge: Joe Swessel 143-142

• Unofficial AP scorecard: 143-142 Norton

 

Holmes probably did slightly better vs Norton but he really struggled just like Ali did.