Does anyone still think that Larry Holmes is always Ali's sparring?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Boxing2019, Nov 17, 2019.


  1. Boxing2019

    Boxing2019 If you want peace, prepare war. banned Full Member

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    Holmes takes it out: "Today's boxing I hate one thing: they talk about all the heavyweights in history, they talk about everyone ... except me. They show the matches of Ali, Frazier, Foreman, of all these guys, but they never show my matches. This makes me feel a little sad, but now I've learned to live with it. I'll take care of my value. Because I know I was one of the great heavyweights of history, it's just a shame that the boxing world does not want to give me credit that I deserve".

    In your opinion.. is Holmes an underrated fighter, an overrated fighter or can he inserted among the 5 best HWs ever without hurting anyone? And above all how much did Holmes have to be considered obnoxious during his career?
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2019
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  2. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Holmes is absolutely top 5, I'm splitting hairs between him and Lewis for 3!
    Holmes >>> Wlad, Foreman, Johnson, Frazier, Holyfield, Marciano or Dempsey.
    Deal with it.
    Anyone who sees Holmes solely as Ali's sparring partner *cough* @HOUDINI *cough* shouldn't open their mouth in discussions surrounding him.
     
  3. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Anyone who knows Boxing knows Holmes is a great, great fighter. Who gives a **** what some silly dumb ass thinks?
     
  4. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Where and when wa this quote from ?
     
  5. Boxing2019

    Boxing2019 If you want peace, prepare war. banned Full Member

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    In recurrence of his 70 years. interview by boxingsc***e.com
     
  6. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Absolutely!
     
  7. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Definitely overshadowed and under appreciated in his time.

    But his plea always had a bitter tone to it, and it never came off well. But he’s just human, I can understand his sentiments.
     
  8. SeanK

    SeanK Member Full Member

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    He’s a lock for the top 5 in my opinion, if he isn’t in your top 10 your nuts

    But man his bitterness can get annoying.

    He’s got money and his health to comfort him.

    Hearing him talk about the Ali fight makes me sick.
     
  9. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Holy ****, Holmes is 70 years old now?
     
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  10. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Gotcha.
     
  11. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Top 3. Yea I feel hes still underappreciated
     
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  12. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    Top 5 certainly. I have him at 4 or 5 depending on the day.
     
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  13. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    Maybe he should get a movie.

    Holmes came from poverty taking care of his younger siblings. His father appeared only sporadically and they lived on welfare. The kid from unremarkable Easton of all cities becoming a sparring partner to "the greatest" was just the beginning.

    You've got a guy who kept his brains, money, and legacy intact. He ducked no one and was involved in plenty of amazing classic ring wars. Owns many properties, has plenty of kids who havent said anything bad about him, faithful to his wife, and plenty of stories both hilarious (trevor berbick brawl) and heart wrenching (facing off against his former stable mate). Love him or hate him, Homes' has a one of a kind and inspirational American success story regardless of your ethnic background.

    Both the boxing fans who dont appreciate him and the current generation of movie goers can certainly learn from this tough as nails hard worker.
     
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  14. joebeadg

    joebeadg Well-Known Member Full Member

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    If it was Ali being bitter and saying things like "why don't they show my fights" and all that, people would be agreeing with him. People are so up his ass I'm surprised he could even sit down! Holmes was great, and also a great guy!
     
  15. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Exactly the same here. And let's be fair, one could put up a pretty good argument for the top 5 to be interchangeable depending on criteria and what you are weighting. Everybody seems to have Ali as #1, but, if he'd had a loss to Cooper and dropped a couple to Norton, he might very well not be #1 at all. So it's pretty debateable.

    I think Holmes suffers a bit from the Wlad Synrdrome: at his best he made his opponents look like bums and people write his opposition off as weak and useless.
     
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