Ali Broke Holmes Ribs In Sparring?

I have heard this on quite a few occasions over many years. It may have been mentioned on the ' champions forever' production that came out around 1989. But I can't remember definitely without checking.

 

Frazier took no prisoners in sparring.

 

It's a shame that Frazier's career was done by the time that Holmes really came into prominence.

 

Holmes probably got caught with that devastating left hook .

Frazier left hand was no joke , he had no power in his right hand .

 

And Holmes never sparred with Frazier at his best in 1973.

 

Yep, that Frazier right hand was completely useless.

lol

 

That's just not true. His right hand to the body was very effective and very hard. His right uppercut was also very good when he used it.

 

I just listened to an interview with Stan Ward who sparred with Frazier and he disagrees.

 

Frazier fits the bill as a rib breaker more than Ali...I raised my eyebrows a bit at that thread title.

 

Just a technical thingy...your posts usually make up for any shortcomings.

 

One of the oldest, dumbest assertions that passes for knowledge around here.

 

I heard that story too.

 

So when Holmes said he was working with Frazier in 1973, and he was mimicking Ali, I guess that means he was Frazier's sparring partner for the Ali rematch in January 1974? And Frazier broke his rib?

That's very interesting. There was always a question why Larry Holmes did so poorly against smallish Kevin Isaac in November 1973 ... even getting dropped by Isaac, who was never all that good.

Maybe it's because Joe Frazier was beating the hell out of Holmes in the gym around that time?