Why is Larry Holmes thought of so highly?

Even as a big Frazier fan, I agree. Frazier was built to burn out fast. Holmes wasn't. But while he was great, he was a true beast. And yeah, you've got to give points for having the motivation and discipline to be in fighting shape-world class fight shape for years to double digit defenses. Even if you're just fighting mandatories and none are particularly great. Holmes was a freak of nature as far as longevity.

 

H2H

1. Lewis
2. Holmes
3. Vitali
4. Foreman
5. Ali/Wlad

 

You have got to be shitting me....

 

You jest surely?

 

That's Larry but just add a microphone and presto...instant arsehole.

 

No, Holmes was that good.

 

This is a verry solid post and I would have to agree with everything.

 

Oh, well, in that case here's my top 5:

1. Michael Dokes/Holmes
2. Roy Jones Jr. (Beat John Ruiz and that's enough)
3. Nikolay Valuev/Botha
4. Tommy Morrison
5. Apollo Creed (even fictional, he gave Rocky hell and almost didn't die against Ivan Drago)

*Both Balboa and Drago aren't on the list because of steroids and Carnera isn't there because of the mob.

 

Not sure what you are getting at here...

Lewis, Holmes and Vitali are all H2H beasts.

The only grey area is putting Foreman over Ali and Wlad, but that is a just an opinion. I see the best Foreman beating the best Ali and Wlad has that vulnerability that prevents me placing him higher.

 

Surely China Hand Joe ain't serious with his top 5

 

China hand.

You said you see the best of Foreman beating the best Ali?

Well, a 32 year old Ali beat a 25 year old Foreman. What was the best of Foreman? The Foreman that beat Frazier and Norton still loses to a 32 year old Ali (oh wait, he did), and a 32 year old Ali is not near the best of Ali.

 

That was a naive Forman who didn't take his own water to Africa.

So Ali beat Foreman, but Fraizer beat Ali and Foreman smashed Fraizer.

Maybe Ali just had the style to beat Foreman and outdid himself and George wasn't drugged after all, either way I see Foreman as the better all round fighter. Regardless of the H2H result. It is all very subjective 50% of people will say Foreman, 50% will say Ali. I am in the former group.

 

Okay, if I had known that was strictly an H2H list I probably would've been less condescending....But I still think you're a little bit insane. But more power to you.:good

 

I will label it a H2H list for the benefit of others.

 

I'm sorry but the Klitschko's in the top 10 let alone top 5 is ridiculous. Holmes, Ali, Foreman I can see, but Wlad and Vitali? They havent had a single defining fight.