"Holmes vs. Snipes" 1981...

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MRBILL, Jan 13, 2009.


Page 1 of 5
  1. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    Folks,

    Back in November of '81, Renaldo Snipes challenged then WBC heavyweight champion Larry Holmes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This nationally televised bout actually turned out to be more explosive then what was originally expected.. Renaldo Snipes was young and unheralded, while champion Larry Holmes was seasoned and perhaps considered aging... Still, all in all, this was a damn good heavyweight title fight of the 1980s....

    NOW! Regardless of the hoopla and controversy regarding the 11th round stoppage by the referee, in my book, the stoppage was just and right... From what I witnessed, Renaldo Snipes was too tough for his own good in 1981... He was in his prime as a man, but still green as a fighter..... Yes, he did drop Larry Holmes for the count in round 7, but Larry Holmes got up and quickly regained control of the round / fight.... In truth, Renaldo "Mister" Snipes let his window of opportunity slip by....

    I may be wrong, but I swear to Christ, this fight kinda' reminded me of a "B" rated version of the '71 title fight between "Ali-Frazier" up in New York... Holmes was a lot like Muhammad Ali, while the ever charging Snipes fought with the determination of a 70s Joe Frazier.....

    Come the 11th round, Renaldo Snipes was in unfamilar territory, and tired, as well as hurt.... By this time, Renaldo Snipes was becoming more and more defenseless. He was now just taking ripping shots from a seasoned and much more experienced Larry Holmes.. At the time of the stoppage, Snipes had taken / eaten THREE good right hands on the jaw from Larry Holmes.... "Mister" Snipes was upright but hurt.... Was Renaldo Snipes gonna perform a miracle and comeback in the fight at this point??? NO!!! In my opinion, had the referee allowed the fight to continue, Renaldo Snipes would've been hammered to the floor in the 12th or 13th round and may have suffered severe damage to himself.... Again, in my view, the referee did Renaldo Snipes a favor in round 11 by stopping the fight....... Peace....

    MR.BILL:D:yep:good:bbb:admin
     
    MRBILL, Jan 13, 2009
    MRBILL, Jan 13, 2009
    #1
  2. booradley

    booradley Mean People Kick Ass! Full Member

    39,848
    16
    Aug 29, 2006
    Are you calling him Mr Snipes because of what he said before the fight?
     
    booradley, Jan 13, 2009
    booradley, Jan 13, 2009
    #2
  3. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    That is what he used as his nickname on his trunks....:bbb

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Jan 13, 2009
    MRBILL, Jan 13, 2009
    #3
  4. booradley

    booradley Mean People Kick Ass! Full Member

    39,848
    16
    Aug 29, 2006
    Okay -- I was thinking about him telling Holmes, "after this fight you're gonna call me Mr Snipes."
     
    booradley, Jan 14, 2009
    booradley, Jan 14, 2009
    #4
  5. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    Have you not seen the fight before?:huh

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    #5
  6. The Kurgan

    The Kurgan Boxing Junkie banned

    8,445
    31
    Nov 16, 2004
    Snipes had a lot of highlights and lowlights in his career, but this fight was a definite highlight. He brought his "A" game and it was surprisingly effective against Holmes.

    The stoppage was not a great one, but also not a particularly bad one. By that point, Holmes had figured Snipes out and it was only a matter of time.
     
    The Kurgan, Jan 14, 2009
    The Kurgan, Jan 14, 2009
    #6
  7. Bigcat

    Bigcat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,545
    98
    Jan 10, 2006
    That was a fight Larry did not have to take, he was risking the important Cooney fight by takin on Snipes , and it nearly backfired.. Snipes could blow hot and cold, but was always a dangerous puncher........ I went to watch him fight biggs quite a few years ago and Tyrell started to impress me back then , but even so Tyrell had to be careful, Snipes was always at his most dangerous when hurt.. He was a great character..
     
    Bigcat, Jan 14, 2009
    Bigcat, Jan 14, 2009
    #7
  8. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    50,933
    24,855
    Jan 3, 2007
    I don't know that much about Renaldo Snipes truthfully, but can we really say that he was a threat to Holmes' and his future paydays? I mean sure the 22-0 record and the bulging physique all looked good on the surface. But, the guy was granted a concencus gift against Coetzee who arguably beat him, and had only stopped 11 of his 22 opponents. Outside of the Coetzee gift, who had he really beaten let alone KO'd? Snipes challenging Holmes was sort of on par with Tony Thompson challenging Wlad. I really don't know if there was any reason to consider the man a threat, although Snipes did surprise everybody with his efforts.
     
    mr. magoo, Jan 14, 2009
    mr. magoo, Jan 14, 2009
    #8
  9. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,586
    43,915
    Apr 27, 2005
    Yeah, at the time he was considered no chance which was reflected in the odds.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 14, 2009
    JohnThomas1, Jan 14, 2009
    #9
  10. Woller

    Woller Active Member Full Member

    1,372
    314
    Nov 24, 2005
    I have just had a look at the fight. It was a perfect stoppage. The referee stopped the fight just one or two punches before Snipes could have been seriously hurt.

    Woller
     
    Woller, Jan 14, 2009
    Woller, Jan 14, 2009
    #10
  11. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    I agree with the stoppage as well.... But Renaldo Snipes whined to Howard Cosell like a baby who just lost his mother.... Yes, the ghetto really surfaced there........:yikes

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    #11
  12. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,495
    2,148
    Oct 22, 2006
    I like it that Snipes moaned about the stoppage, it showed he had spunk. It is such a shame Renaldo never really built on this.

    Although a contender for 10 years there after, he always found a way to lose his big fights.... Although Snipes/Washington was fun, as KO pointed out.
     
    TBooze, Jan 14, 2009
    TBooze, Jan 14, 2009
    #12
  13. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    Renaldo Snipes' biggest win after his TKO loss to Larry Holmes in '81 was his decision win over a lackluster Trevor Berbick on national TV shortly after..... Snipes also got a draw with Scott Frank, as well....... After that, it was basically all losses for Snipes when he fought his "A" grade opponents....... The 1993 loss to Jorge Gonzalez was horrid.... That was it for "Mister" Snipes as a fighter.......

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    #13
  14. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,495
    2,148
    Oct 22, 2006
    Yet, although nearly completely shot, I thought Snipes showed a ton of heart in that fight.

    And Gonzales showed although the classic bully, with hindsight he was not going to make it ( I thought his bout with Bowe was pick-em :oops:) as a top level pro.
     
    TBooze, Jan 14, 2009
    TBooze, Jan 14, 2009
    #14
  15. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    Back in '95 I thought Jorge Gonzalez was a mean looking ****er who could kill a dude.... However, his boxing skills suck long tube-steak deep down to the golf balls.... I was PUMPED when he and Riddick Bowe got-it-on at the MGM hotel... But by round 3, I knew Gonzalez sucked and was in serious trouble.... That was really the last time Riddick Bowe looked unbeatable....... Bowe was ready to be taken by Holy later in 1995 on PPV....... 1996 doesn't need mentioning......:bbb:rasta

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    MRBILL, Jan 14, 2009
    #15
Page 1 of 5