Best contender that Larry Holmes didn't fight.

Pinklon Thomas was undefeated throughout Larry's reign, clearly the most consistent heavyweight contender of the era. After that, Page then Coetzee. (Interestingly, both Page and Thomas suffered their first defeats in decision losses to Trevor Berbick, somebody who Holmes previously shut out over 15 rounds.)

Page lost at critical moments to key opposition during the time Thomas was rising through the ranks, losing to former Holmes challengers Berbick and Witherspoon, then dropping the USBA Heavyweight Title to novice David Bey in the match which won Bey his shot at Holmes.

 

Duodenum,

Page blew it by stinking out the joint on the Holmes vs Cooney undercard. He lost. And he lost again to David Bey, who used Page's name to secure his next fight with Holmes.

 

Mendoza, do you also believe that Thomas was then the best contender Holmes did not defend his championship against, or was there somebody else during Larry's title reign who you feel was superior to Thomas? (I'm curious, because in your first post of this thread, you considered then dismissed Page, but never named an alternative candidate. Holmes himself has indicated that he considers Dokes to have been his toughest potential challenger, something I just couldn't buy after Mike's draw with Ocasio and his SD against Cobb.)

 

Holmes should have, at the very least, rematched Witherspoon and/or Williams, as both of those fights were nip and tuck affairs, with more than just a few people thinking that Holmes had lost.

 

He said in an interview that he felt he beat Teo.But Page and Tate gave him problems.

 

I'd vote for Michael Dokes. He bludgeoned my childhood idol Roughhouse Fischer on the Holmes-Ali undercard and he looked like the best bet for some time after that to have the right combination of speed, power and killer instinct to topple him off the throne.

 

Page didn't lose at THE critical moment when it comes to Holmes. To the contrary, he won! Page - Snipes was a WBC title shot eliminator and Page won it impressively. In the subsequent dealings Holmes refused to fight Page and lost his WBC title as a result.

Lets get the facts straight. Page wasn't in line for a shot when he lost to Berbick, and nor was he in line when he lost to Bey. Bey - Page had absolutely nothing to do with a shot at Holmes no matter how badly the spin doctor would like it to. Page was in line for a shot in between, and Holmes steadfastly refused to fight him giving various reasons.

Jesus, look at who Holmes did fight atsch

Frank, Frazier and the other stiffs really deserved shots ahead of Page in 83, Thomas for ages and Witherspoon via a rematch :roll:

 

As for Holmes facing the likes of Tyson later, well of course he did. That's where the money was and he had no title at all himself. It's a pity he wasn't as forthright post Witherspoon till Spinks.

 

So let me get this straight, you truly scored this fight a shut out?

 

Frankd and Frazier didn't deserve the fights more, but Larry pulled in over $5 million for fighting them, which is around $2 million more than he would have for Page.

 

I don't think it's very far fetched, there wasn't a single round where Berbick had his way with Holmes.

 

So it's ok for Larry to please himself money wise rather than honor his public commitments etc as Heavyweight champion of the world?

Post Witherspoon Larry's reign was all wrong Bill, no if's or butts. It was all there in his own words. It's a shame, because he is certainly one sterling fighter.

You've basically laid it out straight in your own words above.

 

I think it's ridiculous to think the majority of other champions wouldn't have done the same thing, Holmes isn't the only one who took on lesser competition for more money by the end of the reign.

 

Holmes Berbick can easily be scored a shutout.

 

Going into the match, I didn't expect Berbick to try to win. I figured he'd deliberately break Larry's streak of title defense stoppages in much the same way Godoy went the distance with Louis-stay low and steadily back the champion up. It's a great strategy for survival, but not for winning, especially against a boxer like Holmes.

My scorecard was indeed identical to Joe Swessel's 150-135. I have only viewed it that one time. Upon a review, I'd probably try to speculate on why Lou Tabat managed to have it as close as 146-140.