Are Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes the two most technically gifted Heavyweights ever?

First instinct says where's Joe Louis.

 

I don't think Ali was even that great technically. His athletic attributes were the main reason for his success, although his footwork was great when he put his mind to it. Holmes, yes, he fought to a system. Norton too, and Louis certainly. Wlad is another guy that exhibits flawless technique tailored to his system of fighting.

 

You're the one who doesn't.
Ali didn't throw a proper uppercut, textbook, as a coach would teach it.
He threw the right uppercut from the outside and dropped his hand before he threw it, which made him vulnerable to the left hook.

 

You are just parroting what others have posted in here over many many years pertaining to Futch comments. I just gave you a fight ending uppercut and you didn't even see it let alone comprehend it, instead you were fixated on the earlier sweeping hybrid. Not only that, Ali was moving backwards against a charging opponent and he caught him inside when you are harping on above that he threw the uppercut from the outside.

Ali fought with his hands down, did you want him to raise them up before starting the uppercut?

The two booming uppercuts on the previous page courtesy of ikrasevic, one punch KO's, bot include oh so obvious dropping of the hand prior to launching. Tho both knocked the opponent senseless i guess they weren't very good uppercuts in the big scheme of things.

Here's your man crush Tyson, dropping his right hand prior to launching it into Douglas. Perhaps he doesn't know how to throw an uppercut?

This content is protected

Here's Tyson again dropping his right hand before launching it upward into poor old Marvis Frazier.

This content is protected

Here's Holmes, who had an excellent uppercut dropping his hand down to make room against Mike Weaver. That uppercut pulled him out of the fire.

This content is protected

There's thousands of examples.

 

Picture perfect impact of an Ali uppercut....not from the outside.

This content is protected

 

Seems like you are substituting techniques for traditional. Techniques are assets of an individual and if he is a master at his techniques( which he was )then he possessed technical excellence. As a matter of fact, his technique was so good that he was copied by many a fighter. He is one of a few fighters who has a technique named after him. Ali Shuffle.

 

Who is?

 

Louis was more tranditional than Ali but that's not a plus. Ali would have knocked him out.

 

Semantics ruins threads. That's all I really and truly know for certain, confidently, with no doubt.

 

I'm not saying he's technically the best (but "who is that?" is a good question), but technically he's above Ali and Holmes - Mike Tyson.

 

Ali’s technical abilities are often underrated in order to better isolate and accent more on the natural features to his game.

Ali practiced overtime on perfecting his punches - and his early fights clearly reflect textbook executions. The natural moves were perhaps more eye catching and overshadowing.

After winning the title Ali flared up on his natural abilities in fights such those against Williams, Folley and Terrell to put on a show but though not perfect, there was always a good measure of technical substance to his game.

 

First example: Tyson was already a bit bent and crouched towards his right side and Douglas didn't notice Tyson would throw the uppercut.
Second one: Tyson already had Frazier hurt, so he could position himself any way he wanted, there was no risk of a fightback.

 

What a great photo! When you’ve almost seen them all it’s so refreshing to see a photo you haven’t seen.

I respect Chuvalo but while he might’ve gone dancing with his Mrs after the fight, his misshapen features would’ve been quite a sight and I doubt that he wasn’t feeling a bit sick and sore himself.

 

One would think he didn't get lucky after the dance!!!!

I can't remember who it was but i have a pic n a mag somewhere of a boxer on a bed badly beaten up tended to by his wife from memory - a face only a wife could love was the caption, or thereabouts.

 

I think they have a strong case. Certainly up there