Larry Holmes is a wonderful fighter. Could he have got lost in the 70's shuffle?

Holmes would've dominated the 70's. He, in my opinion was better than Ali. I do believe however, that stylistically, Norton and Frazier of FOTC would've posed problems to him. But he would absolutely pick apart all of the other opponents Ali faced in the 70's.

 

I always enjoy your heavyweight analysis from the 70's and 80's, JT. Very fair and accurate stuff indeed.

 

Tho i give Holmes heaps (which he deserves) for taking the easy route home post Terrible Teemy i do think he was one awesome fighter. Besides Ali he might just be the best overall H2H heavy ever.

 

Holmes was a great fighter. His style oozes quality. Gotta love that jab, right cross, and awesome recovery powers.

 

i think holmes would of beaten foreman and ali but i just see frazier breaking him up over a distance fight,and depending on what the frazier fight would of taken out of him that would decide which direction his career would go

 

Frazier gives him the most trouble. So thats a toss up for me.
I could see Holmes winning against the rest.

 

He wouldn´t manage the pressure from Frazier
He wouldn´t manage Ali, Ali to fast and tricky, but I think it would be on points. their styles was a little the same. But Ali takes it definetly.
Foreman would take him apart, Holmes is no Ali.
I think he could have beaten Norton.
So yep, he beats Norton but loses to the others. That says a little of the quality of them cause holmes is one of the best all time.
IMO
The predator

 

I think Foreman has the skills to comfortably beat Foreman, but what i'm wondering is..... he did have a tendency to slug it out when hurt. This is where Ali was smart and covered up, held on or got on his bicycle. Against Foreman it may be murder when Holmes tries this.

I also think many people forget how much a 15 round Frazier war can take out of both, regardless of who wins. Because of his often superiority (and clean lifestyle), Holmes preserved his body quite well throughout the late 70's and early 80's, but fights with guys like Frazier and Foreman would've changed that.

 

ChrisPontius. How you see Holmes matching up against a prime Ali. And also against the early 70's version?


McGrain, chip in with you tuppence worth as well on this one.

 

He possibly has the lack of skill to do it.

 

I think the Muhammad Ali of 1972-1974 would have narrowly outpointed Larry Holmes. The 1970-1971 version would drop a close decision,as he was still a llittle ring rusty. After 1974 Holmes would win. Closely against Ali '75 then by increasing margins from 1976-1978. FOTC Frazier would win a war against Larry. Any other version loses. Holmes had the skill to outbox Foreman,though George would be in with a punchers chance,definetly. As for a prime Ken Norton,I would go 50/50 with this one.

 

My take:

-Against Frazier
It depends which version Larry faces. Against Kingston Joe it is a win. Losses against FOTC Joe and Manila Joe.

-Norton
It is split 50-50. But considering how close was the real Holmes-Frazier fight I think that in this one Norton has the overall upper hand.

-Ali
Again it depends on what version of Ali is considered. Holmes could defeat FOTC Ali, but I doubt he could defeat RITJ Ali or Manila Ali

-Foreman
Loss against Kingston Foreman. Against RITJ Foreman it is 50-50


Overall, Larry doesn't look so bad. He could well defeat any of the top 4 in their "weak" versions.

Of course the other side of the coin is that Holmes could well be defeated by all the top 4 in their "strong" versions

 

I think he has a mixed bag of results against the elite, but does a pretty good job of beating the top flight contenders of the period. Jerry Quarry, Ron Lyle, Jimmy Ellis, Joe Bugner, Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster, Floyd Patterson, Buster Mathis, and Oscar Bonavena are all men who I'd pick Holmes to beat. Jimmy Young might be a problem, but given that Young's battle with a 35 year old Ali was a fight that basically could have gone either way, and Young was no favorite of the judges, I think a peak Holmes could have pulled it off. Joe Frazier probably beats him in the early 70's, but not anytime after 1973. Ali is a toss up, given that he was out of prime for much of the decade, and winning some questionable decisions towards the end. Foreman does not beat Holmes. Norton is probably a 50/50 bet...