Zora Folley vs. Larry Holmes

Not as many as you might think, for a fighter who was at the top of the sport for so long. Ring magazine ratings, I make it:

#5 Eddie Machen
#3 Henry Cooper
#4 Bob Cleroux
#2 (light-heavy) Doug Jones
#7 Bob Cleroux
#7 Billy Daniels

There were quite a few names like Nino Valdes, Mike DeJohn and George Chuvalo who had been ranked in the past and would go on to be ranked again, but Folley just didn't bag them at the right moment. He does a little better in the NBA ratings - then you get to throw in Wayne Bethea and Chuvalo.

 

Excellent montage. So satisfying when you see a guy like Folley boxing by the book as he did.

I’ve said before that I read that he idolised Joe Louis and apparently modelled his style on Joe’s.

Hard for anyone to replicate Louis exactly, not least in regard to his power and two handed power at that, but I think Zora did a fine job in approximating himself as closely as he could to Joe.

 

Yeah he was quite a good fighter. I love the way he delivers tat right hand.

 

John, I know what you mean about the right hand. I had watched his bouts with Chuvalo and Bonavena and absolutely loved his straight right. Absolute precision. I would still go with Holmes here, but this is no walkover. Larry would know he was in a fight.

Incidentally, off-topic of Holmes-Folley, a year or two ago someone brought up 'Who would win between Marciano and Folley' thread. I think, like this one, it was pretty much unanimous for Marciano - myself included. However, I decided to rummage through Zora's record to find the most Marciano-ish style that Zora went up against and to see how he did. I came up with Chuvalo, Bonavena and Alex Miteff. And the eerie thing was that Folley handled all three. Again, this was Rocky-ish, not to be confused with the real thing, but it made the question most interesting.

 

I completely agree Holmes would win, absolutely. Sounds like he liked those brawlers!!!!

 

Zora is an amazing fighter.