prime ali vs. prime holmes

For starters I don't think this really would be the great jabbing contest that many envision. When Ali faced an opponent with a good jab that he relied heavily upon he often tried to counter this jab instead of dominating it with his own. This can be seen in the fights against Folley, Bugner and Lyle etc. Dundee said he expected the same pattern against Terrell, but that it didn't happen since Terrell opted to play it safe behind a peek-a-boo guard.

That's why I think that Ali's right would be the key here. It wouldn't have been the hardest Holmes ever faced, but certainly the fastest (well, with the exception of Tyson maybe) as well as most well-timed and precise.

 

It all comes back to that RIGHT HAND. Ali had a very rare double right hand lead combo he mastered in his prime late 60s, Watch Zora Folley knockout. Ali was incredible with it....Holmes had a serious flaw that right hand. When Larry brought his left back after jabbing ali is going to hit him with that double right lead combo and break holmes eye socket in two.....Overall holmes wanted to fight ali, but the harder he tried the more he failed. Ali was faster sharper and just plain better. I like Ali to rip holmes face apart early then cruise to a Unanimous decision.

 

Holmes jab was very heavy in his prime.

The first guy to slow down is going to lose.

Holmes may have to go on the offense more in this fight.

 

You make a great point about Ali's right hand. Holmes wasn't as suseptible to the right as many people think, but it was the easiest punch to hit him with and Ali's right hand was lightning fast.

I see that, and Ali's superior speed being the difference and he wins a decision 9-6.

 

Ali would have to time Holmes' heavy left jab to use his fast right on Holmes.

 

No Heavyweight IMO beats the Ali that fought Cleveland Williams. It's not as simple as saying Prime Holmes was a poor man's Prime Ali because Holmes did certain things better than Ali. His right uppercut was better and he was probably a better in-fighter. But prime for prime I just think Ali had more of just about everything. I'd say Ali takes it about 10-5.

 

Yeah, I'm talking about prime Holmes. He was a bit vulnerable to rights even then. And Ali had one of the very best counter rights in HW history.

 

Ali was already ill with Park's syndrome by 1978 leading into '80 against Holmes.. How the hell Ali passed a physical exam only shows that doc's can be bought and sold........ It was criminal.....

Holmes was not sick in '88, but rusty and ill prepared............. Holmes was at his heaviest to date at 227 soft pounds.... Holmes needed a few tune-up fights before doing the tango with a dude like a peak Tyson.... However, aside from all that bull****, nobody was gonna beat Tyson in 1988....

MR.BILL:bbb:deal

 

By 1991, at age 24 to 25, Tyson no longer could bob & weave worth a **** nor punch in rapid-fire combination..... By 1991 all Tyson could do was punch....... His skills were faded against Ruddock.....

MR.BILL

 

I'd like to score one myself....:yep:admin:rasta

SR.BILL