Supposing that Big George had decided to carry on after the Jimmy Young defeat. He gets matched with an up and coming Holmes. Who takes it ? Would Larry have been ready for George at this time ?
I dont like Holmes much, and id pick Foreman at his peak to walk through Holmes. However, at that period, Foreman was really mind ****ed after Zaire. And Young really pushed him over the edge.
I've always maintained that by 1977 Larry Holmes was ready for George Foreman. By 1979 he'd beat any version of Big George that stepped into the ring. As for the thread? Considering the loss to Young it's pretty conceivable that George would have had a lack of confidence going into the fight and Larry would have not only capitalized on it but he would have beaten George by a pretty wide margin. Larry Holmes by decision.
As for Foreman's mindset in a fight with Holmes,he could have used the Young defeat as motivation to beat a guy who was a slick boxer.
Holmes at that point was itching for his shot knowing he was probably the best in the world. Foreman at that point was disillusioned and went from a wrecking ball to a nothing very quick. Yes norton was probably top of the world and foreman would have waxed him but holmes jab was too good for big george.
Considering the caliber fighter that Larry Holmes is it would have been false confidence on George's part. I would have a very difficult time giving Foreman the nod over Holmes because Larry has never had any trouble beating fighters with a "deliberate" style.
The difference between the Holmes of Arrington in November 1977 and the Holmes of Shavers I in March 1978 was night and day according to ringside eyewitness Cosell, who broadcast both from ringside, and had seen Larry in competition since 1972. Below, he also broadcasts Holmes-Prater with Foreman to open 1977. Would Larry have been ready for George at this stage, or does Foreman walk right through him? [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyqHIiEdnP0[/ame]
Larry had not found his awesome jab yet at this point. He looks quite different here in 77' than he did later. Larry at his peak was the greatest Heavy of All time. He outboxes George prime vs prime.
