If Larry Holmes had never been

I don't see Cooney having 5 years of winning as champ.. Old Foreman demolished him in 2 rounds and Spinks a lightheavyweight knocked him out.

 

Calling a very good fighter a bum? Talk about sounding like a child! I can tell someone lacked discipline growing up!

 

Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's former physician, said Ali started to exhibit early signs of Parkinsons Disease following the "Thrilla in Manila" fight with Joe Frazier. Both fighters were never the same after that. We have to place historical context to Ali's career going back to him as Cassius Clay when he truly was ascending as a boxer...Beating opponents like Sonny Liston and George Foreman (when he was undefeated prior) says it all.....It is unfortunate most of us remember Ali as a fighter years past his prime....His greatness cannot be diminished....

 

I can't picture Holmes as a figure skater. He may have went on to own a chain of Pizza Shops instead.

Although, Holmes was an accomplished entrepreneur almost as much as he was an accomplished fighter

 

Galento would have been an ATG if not for Louis. You'd be picking him to be the most probable one who could stop prime Ali

 

I can't see Cooney beating Witherspoon.

 

I really enjoy the remarks about Larry Holmes, yes, he was a great fighter in a great era of boxing; but he had difficulty knocking guys out....He definitely could not beat Cassius Clay in his prime or an early Ali; he defeated an Ali after "Parkinsons" took hold of Ali, according to the late Dr. Ferdie Pacheco after the ""Thrilla in Manila" fight with Joe Frazier.....Ali was never the same after that as a matter of medical history with his fight doctor....

 

I feel like the only difference in the heavyweight division without Holmes would be that instead of the WBA title being passed around for a half decade while the WBC had a steady champion, both the WBA and WBC would have revolving door champions. Until Tyson of course.

 

I think without Larry, Norton might have defended against Shavers and got himself knocked out in one round. So the Acorn could have been a brief WBC belt holder. Tate would have been WBA champion and that run of pass the parcel would have stayed the same. The WBC linage might have went from Shavers to Weaver though. there would be extra champions on that line. Snipes, Marvis And Cooney could have been brief holders. Either way I believe Berbick and Witherspoon and Thomas still pass things around without Larry. A terrible mess.

 

I wouldn't count out Lucien Rodriguez.

 

The names ring a similar bell don't they.

 

You are forgetting the mighty Leroy Jones. With Tate and Jones as the two champions the Superheavyweight dominance would have begun 40 years earlier!