Prime Muhammad Ali vs Larry Holmes

The deciding factor might not be the jab, but who could land his right hand more often or with the most effect. I have a feeling that Ali would land his as a counter often enough to win a close decision.

I don't think I would be putting much money on it, though.

 

There is absolutely no chance that Holmes jab or any other punch was quicker than prime Ali. Just watching both men fight tells the tale.

 

If Ali stays on his toes his legs are too fast for Holmes.
If he settles down and it turns into a jabbing duel then its Holmes
So basically 50/50 the ball is in Ali's court

 

Eras!!!

 

In a pvp matchup I can see Holmes being more trouble then Ali had in the Norton trilogy. IMO
Sidebar: IMO Ali would beat both 67-70 convincingly by UD. What year you're talking factors in as well..

 

I'll edge towards Ali but I don't think there'll be any stoppages in this fight.

 

Definitely no stoppage , two of the best Chin s in heavyweight history .

 

All the people picking Holmes in my view are picturing the wrong fight. They want to picture Holmes in place of Norton against THAT version of Ali. That isn't the Ali in this thread, that is a different Ali. The Ali in this thread would've moved and danced his way to a clear UD. Holmes has nothing really for that version of Ali and is too slow of foot and not good enough at cutting of the ring. When the exchanges do happen, Ali's vastly superior reflexes and speed would carry the day there to.

 

Absolutely on all counts. As he moved less later in the fight (after outboxing Holmes with his own jab, movement and speed) Ali's rapier like counter right would be showing itself more and more. Pre-exile Ali would have beat Norton with speed and movement and the tactics that worked so well against an older more stationary Ali would not have had near the same success.

 

60s Ali/1980 Holmes: In a remarkable, tactical fight that doesn't exactly thrill the kayo-lovers, Ali wins a unanimous decision. Holmes comes out very strong, showing right off the bat his heavier jab while Ali looks like he's trying to get it together. By the third round Ali's jab is getting through and Holmes is getting very irritated. Ali wins overall this round right into the tenth; however, in the eighth Holmes lands a big right...but Ali doesn't look too much the worse for wear and wins the round by staying away and landing his own, lighter combinations. From rounds 11 to 15 Holmes begins a big rally, landing the right much more, but Ali has a seven round lead and makes damn sure he doesn't blow the rest of the fight. In the 13th Ali lands a right that has Holmes staggering, but he fights even harder, backs Ali up with a pair of mean-ass rights and ends up in control by the end of the round. The 15th is where all bets are off, each fighter being convinced this is the round to win. Holmes' knees buckle under a volley of combinations, though only a pair of nasty rights get through. He holds, then begins dancing with Ali. Ali walks into a stepped-into left jab that has his eyes roll up in his head for a quick second. Holmes then goes flat footed and the two are raining blows at the bell, with Holmes looking physically stronger and getting the better of the extended exchange. But it isn't enough.

Early 70s Ali/1980 Holmes: Ali is more flatfooted in this fight, while Holmes circles and shoots combinations. Ali's punch is heavier than back in the 60s, but not by a great margin and he simply doesn't have the power to keep Larry from darting in and out with the jab and combos. There are a few rounds where Holmes memorably comes down off his toes and punches with Ali, and here is where Ali manages best, getting off some really good right hands and at one point backing up Larry. But it isn't enough, Ali begins to look like he did in the last half of the Norton fight and Holmes takes a unanimous decision in 15.

 

I feel it would be like the Tyrell fight Ali beat a cagey opponent that night with a high guard he always found a way, and his counters were shorter and quicker than Larry`s plus he got caught less because he could slip shots.

 

I believe this is tactically solid. I don't see Larry getting seriously hurt much by this, though. Ali just didn't have the power to keep Larry from doing his thing. That said, as I mentioned earlier I believe 60s Ali takes an uncontested decision, while Larry takes the early 70s Ali.

 

But Holmes' jab was stronger, heavier...so was his overhand right and uppercut. And he certainly would have landed it, granted not too often on the 60s Ali, but often enough to where it would be far from a shut-out decision.

 

Spot on assessment and I see it the same way.

 

Holmes, and yes, it is because he's "greater"!, just my opinion of course. If youre thinking of the yng dancing ali, he would look a fool, because Larry would be smashing him with HARD jabs, and when ali came in throwing combos, he would be met with equal or greater retaliation. It would appear he was running from Holmes, not outboxing him. The later version of ali, which I actually have more respect for in the ring would just be outboxed, hit hard and often. ali never fought a guy as fast, smart and had power like Holmes all in one package. I would love to see this ass whooping!