Give each of Larry Holmes title opponents a letter grade

Ali should be rated higher, later he arguably beat the Berbick you have who is 2 grades higher

Carl Williams maybe should be higher, as he arguably beat Holmes

 

C- for Cobb? Oomph... rough.

 

Nah, surely not...if the primary criteria we are to judge this on is "Head to Head Ability the night he fought Holmes" as stated in the OP. In fact, Ali should be an 'E-' or probably an 'F' grade. What is the lowest score we can give in this grading, Suzie?

Ali was a ticking timebomb on the night of that fight; OD'd with Thyrolar, and at risk of a stroke during the bout. Even without the Thyrolar, Ali was already ill and slurring his words. A pre-match medical had said "He shows a degree of missing with placing his finger on his nose" and "He does not show the ability to hop with the agility one would expect".

The fight was a travesty, and shouldn't have been allowed to take place.

Ali shouldn't have been in that ring at all, the state he was in. It wasn't just that his skills had eroded so badly, he was a sick man. He couldn't defend himself. He could have easily died in there.

 

Scott Frank would be honored to be graded as a "C+". I'd bet he would show this thread to his friends and family and anyone else who would read it.

 

He did not arguably beat Berbick. He clearly lost, he just did relatively well for a complete shot to pieces fighter. Even Ali knew he lost, let's not overstate his performance because he didn't look like as much of a zombie as he did against Holmes when he was filled with thyroid medicine.

 

Cobb should be a d-, he sucked, was tough, but that is all he was.

 

Witherspoon had only 14 or 15 fights, and stilll may have beat Holmes that night, it was close decision. He gets and A.

 

vs Ken Norton 1978: Grade: A-

vs Alfredo Evangelista 1978: Grade: c

vs Ossie Ocasio 1979: Grade: C+

vs Mike Weaver 1979: Grade: B

vs Earnie Shavers 1979: Grade: A-

vs Lorenzo Zanon 1979: Grade: D
vs Leroy Jones 1980: Grade: B-

vs Muhammad Ali 1980: Grade: C+

vs Trevor Berbick 1981: Grade: B-

vs Leon Spinks 1981: Grade: C+

vs Renaldo Snipes 1981: Grade: C+

vs Gerry Cooney 1982: A-

vs Randall Cobb 1982: C

vs Lucien Rodriguez 1983: D

vs Tim Witherspoon 1983: B+

vs Scott Frank 1983: D+

vs Marvis Frazier 1983: D

vs Bonecrusher Smith 1984: B+

vs David Bey 1984: C-

vs Carl Williams 1985: B you were right on with me on most. Marvis I give a D to. Which is suprising that I gave Bonecrusher a B+ since Marvis outboxed Bonecrusher in 10. But stylewise and all around skills Bonecrusher was more significant. Marvis was small and any good size champ would demolish him. Witherspoon only a B because of when he fought Larry. He would have probably beaten Larry had the 1986 Witherspoon who fought Bruno fought Larry in 1983. I gave Ali a C+ I think Holmes was that good to make Ali look that bad. Mike Weaver a B.. B+ is too good for Mike's chin.

 

Cobb was a punching bag that is for sure. I did not respect Cosell for that ridiculous drama he created in that fight. If he loved boxing he would have kept watching. He just used it to get publicity, and when it was not as big as his Ali days he said he was quitting it forever (or something like that) because of the brutality. The ref was the problem and not boxing. Cosell knew this.

 

i remember that Williams fight. It was at an odd time or channel. It was on at night on a regular tv channel, and not the main one. On like channel 13.

 

errrrrrr, no.

Cobb the same as Evangalista and the awful Scott Frank. I think not!

 

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vs Ken Norton 1978: Grade: A- (A in Prime)

vs Alfredo Evangelista 1978: Grade: E

vs Ossie Ocasio 1979: Grade: C+

vs Mike Weaver 1979: Grade: C+

vs Earnie Shavers 1979: Grade: B+

vs Lorenzo Zanon 1979: Grade: D

vs Leroy Jones 1980: Grade: D

vs Muhammad Ali 1980: Grade: F (Zombie!)

vs Trevor Berbick 1981: Grade: B-

vs Leon Spinks 1981: Grade: D

vs Renaldo Snipes 1981: Grade: C

vs Gerry Cooney 1982: B

vs Randall Cobb 1982: E+ (with A GRADE CHIN)

vs Lucien Rodriguez 1983: D+

vs Tim Witherspoon 1983: B+ (Lazza LOST!)

vs Scott Frank 1983: E

vs Marvis Frazier 1983: D+

vs Bonecrusher Smith 1984: C

vs David Bey 1984: D

vs Carl Williams 1985: B (Lazza LOST!)


Foreman Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook!:rasta