It's been a common opinion over the years that Larry Holmes was a better more powerful puncher than Ali was. Also that he was a bit stronger. I don't agree with it. They were both sharp hitters, neither depended on power but IMO if there's an edge it would go Ali maybe slightly but strength by a good margin. For those who say Holmes had more pop what fights can you point me to that might change my view?
Holmes hit more consistently with hard punches and with a more varied arsenal of punches. Compare their uppercuts and you can see it for yourself. Ali's right, when he sat on it, could pack a punch and the left that he did Bonavena with was a great, but rare punch, for him. Ali was a level stronger in my opinion, physically, holding his own with Liston, Foreman and Chuvalo to name a few.
Ali when he went after his right hand was a harder puncher. It was crisper and he put paid to plenty of opponents with it. Holmes was often more of a clubbing puncher. I liked his right hand when he really straightened it out. Ali was more likely to do some serious damage with one punch imo. Holmes did have a good uppercut but i'd still take Ali's cross.
I think Ali hit harder one punch - Lyle, Bonavena, Foreman etc. but Holmes threw hard punches more consistently, especially uppercuts and hooks. His more varied arsenal allowed him to hit more power punches for me - especially strength of the jab. As you say, Holmes' one more thudding - KD of Ocasio versus Ali's sharper, more cutting, corkscrew jab.
There's not a lot in it, IMO. I think Holmes always seemed to give the impression that he loaded up on his shots more, whereas Ali let his hands go with more speed and flow. But, Ali's right, when he sent it with bad intentions, traveled a good distance at pace and it looked pretty hard, from where I was sitting.
I would agree Larry had the better uppercut. Like the one that changed the fight against Mike Weaver. He needed that power at that moment because Weaver was starting to kick his a$$. That was a mark of a great champion imo. Ali's right cross was potent especially when he came down off his toes and slugged. Did Holmes have more behind his jab? I've always thought Ali's jab was the best I ever saw in any division. At least pre Manila.
About equal power wise. Ali was clearly more talented and an overall better boxer than Holmes prime for prime.
Ali was the sharper hitter and threw punches in bunches but Holmes right was his go-to punch and he tended to load up on it a lot more. Almost floored Earnie Shavers near the end of their first fight with one big right hand and would have stopped him if the final bell didn’t ring. Also his right hands was powerful enough to deterred and discouraged both Renaldo Snipes and Tim Witherspoon from rushing in when they both had him in serious trouble in their respective fights against him.
To me not a whole lot separating them, I guess I would say Holmes by a slim margin in regards to power but close enough that there is not a definitive correct answer.
I rate them both as having 6-7/10 ballpark range at their best putting all they can into a shot or combination. Its noteworthy that they could make guys respect them and snapped their heads back while moving backwards or punching while moving and light on their toes. I believe Holyfield, Norton, Douglas, Fury, etc are on a similar level power wise. Clearly above average but not quite elite destructive power range. It is important to distinguish power from finishing ability. Ali and Holmes don't hit nearly as hard as Shavers or even Galento but they were far superior at finishing once they had a guy hurt.
The Muhammad Ali that destroyed a bullet scarred Cleveland Big Cat Williams on Nov 14 1966, was a sharp punching World Heavyweight Champion with no vulnerabilities, than the Ali that came back on Oct 26 1970, and stopped Jerry Quarry in 3 rounds due to cuts. Two months later he stopped Oscar Bonavena, in round 15, but as Howard Cossel said, This Fight Reminds Me Of The Karl Mildenberger Fight. The returning Ali was easier to hit than the prime Ali of 1964-1967. Larry Holmes was a good champion but lacked the chin of prime Ali and the speed to get out of the way of big punches. Larry was decked by Earnie Shavers and Reynaldo Snipes during his prime title reign. Ali was not decked during his prime title reign. Prime Ali went 15 rounds with George Chuvalo on March 29 1966, but never tasted the canvas, enroute to a unanimous 15 round decision in defense of his title. Prime Ali had better stamina than Prime Larry Holmes did.
I think Holmes. His right hand was sharp and powerful. Not a Thomas Hearns right hand but hard and quick.
Ali had the ability to vary his power so that the last of a combination was the more hurtful punch, usually the one he threw with his feet set rather than on his toes. Larry didn't have this subtlety but against a static target he would double and treble his right , I think he hit Randy Cobb with about 5 or 6 on the trot. Neither man was a big, one punch hitter but both were excellent at creating and taking opportunities.
