What did Larry Holmes do better than Muhammad Ali?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mark Anthony, Oct 3, 2024.

  1. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2023
    Messages:
    7,359
    Likes Received:
    3,407
    What did Larry Holmes do better than Muhammad Ali? Did he have a better jab?
     
    cross_trainer and Journeyman92 like this.
  2. Pedro_El_Chef

    Pedro_El_Chef Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2023
    Messages:
    1,202
    Likes Received:
    1,885
    Uppercut, better infighting, better pressuring, I think that's it.
     
  3. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2024
    Messages:
    8,202
    Likes Received:
    10,650
    Business & personal finances. Just about nothing in the ring, perhaps jabbing, uppercut & power punching - perhaps. Although a great fighter & not a true carbon copy of Ali, he is very much the poor man’s version of that same basic mould of boxer.
     
  4. sauhund II

    sauhund II Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2008
    Messages:
    3,503
    Likes Received:
    2,196
    Was always in shape.
     
  5. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2024
    Messages:
    8,202
    Likes Received:
    10,650
    Some guys just have lousy genetics, no matter what they do. Frazier was never chiseled despite the best motor in the business & Holmes looked like a rotting pear.
     
    Smoochie and Thread Stealer like this.
  6. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2023
    Messages:
    7,359
    Likes Received:
    3,407
    Am I right in saying he finished Leon Spinks with an uppercut?
     
  7. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2023
    Messages:
    7,359
    Likes Received:
    3,407
    Holmes looked in great condition v Norton, if Frazier had been chiseled at 5`10 he would have been a middleweight he needed a fat percentage to bulk up to heavyeweight, good bicep definition though.
     
    Smoochie and robert ungurean like this.
  8. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2023
    Messages:
    7,359
    Likes Received:
    3,407
    He didn`t look in good condition v Michael Spinks but he was in better condition than Ali was in his late 1970`s fights.
     
    Smoochie likes this.
  9. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2018
    Messages:
    6,136
    Likes Received:
    5,264
    More powerful, better jab and was better on the inside.
     
  10. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2006
    Messages:
    97,529
    Likes Received:
    28,743
    Yes
     
    Greg Price99, Pat M, Levook and 6 others like this.
  11. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Barrios is a bandit robber - Psalm 144:1 Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2021
    Messages:
    18,140
    Likes Received:
    20,141
    It’s diet not genes.
     
    cross_trainer likes this.
  12. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Barrios is a bandit robber - Psalm 144:1 Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2021
    Messages:
    18,140
    Likes Received:
    20,141
    Plenty, Ali also did plenty better - similar styles but not too much alike. Holmes was a better body puncher, he had a better jab and understood how to apply it better, he aged better, was a smarter fighter and knew how to go for the body, he had a decent uppercut and a more cagey, fundamental defence - Larry Holmes was a meaner, rougher guy who didn’t leave the pasture to avoid punches “The Homer” was a better boxer with worse competition IMO, Ali did have a bit of magic to him that made him a better fighter doe.
     
  13. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2019
    Messages:
    8,623
    Likes Received:
    11,452
    Jab and uppercut.
     
    Mark Anthony likes this.
  14. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2024
    Messages:
    8,202
    Likes Received:
    10,650
    I would typically agree with this - for virtually everyone in life, that is demonstrably true. But for elite athletes at the highest level, how else do we explain guys like these? Holmes & Frazier had plenty of fights where they were in top shape & performed accordingly. Yet you wouldn’t want either of their physiques if it came with a million dollar sign on bonus.
     
  15. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Barrios is a bandit robber - Psalm 144:1 Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2021
    Messages:
    18,140
    Likes Received:
    20,141
    They had excess weight to lose to look “chiseled” which just means they ate too much and didn’t move enough, tip top condition or not it’s just the way it is. It just isn’t necessary to get rid of the extra fat especially for a heavyweight, it doesn’t mean anything, they’re comfortable with it in the ring. if you don’t have enough muscle / bad fat storage spots it looks terrible for some till they get pretty low in there body fat % I don’t think either Holmes or Frazier had a trace of abdominals or much definition in general so they had pounds to lose end of… that is if there goal was to look “pretty” Holmes looked like he wouldn’t see his abs till he was probably 190-200lbs lol.