Assessing Larry Holmes's all time heavyweight standing

I have him at 5... Ali, Louis and Lewis are a lock for me in the top 3. Anything below 7 is silly.

 

Ah, I see. Yes, in a list of HWs champions ranked by how historically high profile their defences were, and are still are today, I agree Holmes would rank lower than he typically does on a list of all time great HWs. That said, his defence vs Cooney was reasonably high profile, even if partially for unsavoury reasons.

 

Ali, Louis and Lewis, yes. Foreman arguable. Tyson almost arguable. Frazier, I want to make the argument but I don't believe it. Marciano, Johnson and Dempsey not even close.

 

I put Holmes at 3 or 4. He switches with Evander Holyfield depending on which way the wind is blowing.

 

At the time Cooney was high profile for "Reasons" of course, but once it was over, and Holmes won in the manner he did, it was over. I do not think there will be a 100-year party for Holmes Cooney like Johnson vs Jeffries, that they did 12 years back.

 

I consider Holmes' defeat of Butterbean more impressive than Louis beating Galento.

 

When Holmes beat up a billboard lol.

 

I’m trying to figure out what criteria you’re using that downplays the great Holmes Norton fight whilst simultaneously building up Bowe Holyfield. To me these 2 fights are some of the absolute greatest fights in the division.

And even if you don’t think Holmes/Norton was that iconic, was VK Lewis iconic? Not at all.

I don’t see your point if I’m honest

 

No. I am right. Dempsey was the King of the Event, an alltimer in that sense, but had a level competition that wouldn't be licensed to fight at heavyweight in Holmes' era. Marciano kicked over a bunch of used-up old men, lightheavies and white dopes. It would be as if Holmes only fought late stage Ali and Scott Frank. Jeffries held the color line for as long as he could and got his ass beat when he finally dropped it. Before that he struggled with tough man level competition.

I know there is some clout, financial or otherwise, in pretending these guys were better than they actually were, but were not all obligated to participate in this fantasy.

 

What argument is there exactly for Lewis a lock at 3. I don’t see it at all. Holmes has a way stronger case.

 

Oh and in these rankings I see a lot of posters considering this mythical 15 round H2H round robin tournament. FWIW I think Holmes is an absolute ‘H2H’ god.

I would be stunned if anything of the mythical superheavyweights ‘ best heavyweights ever H2H goats’ Vitali or Lewis cracked the top 5. Maybe Bowe.

 

Partial Quote:

I would love to see that top 100 Heavyweights! I used the search but cannot find it. Do you have a link to it saved?

 

I can't find a link to the original article, @McGrain may be able to point you in the right direction.

His 100 is listed (in the course of multiple posts) of another site. I'm not 100% certain as to the rules on posting links to other boxing chat forums, so I'll DM you a link.

 

Ah! I understand!