Awesome !!! thanks for posting … it just doesn't get any better than Rummy's Corner .. as usual. Really enjoyed it
Agreed. But I still think the quality within the quantity still tends to be undervalued to a large extent.
Great work as usual, putting all that together, Rummy. Can’t really argue with the choices you made but personally I might have considered putting in Larry’s first fight against Shavers from march 1978 just a few months before the title win against Kenny Norton. That was arguably his finest career performance in the first real test for the then relatively unknown and unproven Holmes. He pitched a near shutout on the judges card after 12 rounds with two judges giving Holmes every round and one judge giving Shavers one round. Holmes could even have scored a knockout with seconds left when he had Shavers almost down with a big right hand and then looking helpless on the rope before the final bell rang. This was the same Shavers that had even given Ali hell in a title challenge only six months earlier.
Whenever you get a 118 -111 score in a fight like the Witherspoon, you have to be reminded of the scores handed down by CJ Ross (Floyd Canelo 'draw') and Adelaide byrd (118 - 110 Canelo GGG 'draw'). You can reasonably toss that decision out. At least one of the MFs hadn't a clue. I remember scoring that fight to Tim the night it happened, and I've seen nothing since to change my mind.
Excellent video! I have Holmes beating Withersoon by pretty big margin - 117-112. I think he clearly won that fight against very, very good opponent. I also think that Holmes' win over prime Ray Mercer is extremely underrated. Look, Holmes was 42 y.o., Mecer was 30, undefeated and he was at the very peak of his career coming into that fight after a bunch of very good wins. And Holmes completely outboxed/outclassed Ray. Few years later 35 y.o., 12-months inactive and 30-months winless Ray Mercer gave pure hell to a prime version of Lennox Lewis. So, yes, Lomes' win over Mercer was an excellent one.
Holmes beat Witherspoon and Norton by wider margins than the judges had it imo. Holmes was amazing, he had a press that despised him because he wasn’t Ali, fought in an era where nearly every other top Hw got hooked on some substance problem or legal issue and just came out and did his business time and again. Got off the canvas from absolute bombs to fight back and win (and past prime got up from a Tyson bomb before losing), Deserved the Spinks rematch and was denied, avoided by the comebacking Foreman. And gave a great account against Holyfield. Holmes is still underrated by many. The pressure in the Cooney fight was enormous for both sides. Holmes was a champion in every sense. Shavers 2x, Cooney, Witherspoon, Norton, Mercer, The assassin was no joke. Missed out on some guys when he dropped belt and picked up new ibf but most heavies have some flaws.
Good picks, and good show Rummy. I think you're good enough to make this a side gig, as some sports network or radio would pick you up at least in a podcast. The talent among boxing media is rather low right now, so I say go for it! If you need a little help PM me. Suppose Holmes got the decision most felt he deserved vs. Mike Spinks in the re-match, would that crack your top 5? I know, tough question!
I had Holmes up two points on Witherspoon. Close, but clear. You could also say that was one of Witherspoon's best performances. I also had Holmes up over Norton by at lest two rounds. The close fight for me with Holmes was his win over Carl Williams.
I'm a Witherspoon fan. I have seen most of his fights. Don't be fooled by the 15-0, Witherspoon had Philly gym tutelage, which back then was worth 20+ fights of experience. I also think this could have been Timmy's best performance. Of course his best accomplishments came after Holmes. No one was better. At his best, Timmy had good skills on offense and defense, a very solid chin, and a KO power in his right hand. A shame Don King iced him away from Mike Tyson.
He could have met Tyson in early 87 in a unification fight but he blew it by getting flattered by Bonecrusher who then took his place against Tyson.
I think that fight was fixed. It was the only time he was every stopped in his career. Witherspoon's house was robbed the same night. Could it have been a case of " Take a dive, and make some money but you're not getting Tyson and just in case you try to screw with Don King, let it be know we can get you where you live. " King of course controlled the contracts of both Smith and Witherspoon, making him the power broker. Anyone know the odds on the fight, and if they moved near the night of? Witherpsoon beat Smith easily in the first fight. He didn't look all there or focused for the re-match.
