They had similar styles, very similar styles. So why was Holmes vulnerable to right hands while Ali was vulnerable to left hooks?
I would disagree somewhat they they had VERY similar styles. Holmes was more orthodox. My guess is Holmes was vulnerable to right hands in part due to carelessness/complacency/fatigue and Ali was vulnerable to left hooks because he "hooked with hookers."
When I think of a guy being vulnerable to a particular punch, I think of Librado Andrade walking head first into every left cross Lucien Bute threw, or Wayne Braithwaite being unable to get out of the way of straight rights in...well pretty much every fight. I really don't think of Ali as being a sucker for the left hook. Yes he did hit the canvas several times from left hooks, but if Larry had fought Joe Frazier 3 times, I'd say the odds are strong that he would have found himself on the mat from a left hook at least once during those three fights. Same thing goes if Holmes had fought Henry Cooper when he was still a novice. Same thing goes for Holmes and avoiding the right right. He fought a disproportionate amount of right hand heavy punchers: Shavers (X2), Bonecrusher, Spinks Jinx,Witherspoon. Although The Truth was known for his rapier jab, he did most of his real damage with the 2 in his 1-2. I think you get where I'm going with this.
Holmes was better defensively and more diverse on offense. He fought plenty of right hand punchers. Only two of which floored him. ( Shavers and Snipes ). Holmes first fight with Shaver is a near masterpiece. And his second fight with Shavers proved beyond doubt the he could take a bomb, and recover. Ali clinched a lot, limiting the chances of him being hit.
Excellent post. Far too much is made of that old wives tale. Kevin Isaac put Holmes down with a left hook early in his career , didn't he?
Sonny Blanks also knocked down Ali with a left hook. Ali was vulnerable to left hook because of his habit leaning away from punches. Holmes to right hands because he carried the left hand low.