H2H Heavyweight King: Who comes out on top?

Larry Holmes :

I will use ironchamp´s system:

green- W
red - L
orange - too tough to call, 50-50

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- close fight

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5. Larry Holmes

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well....Ali, Louis, Lewis and Holmes are my top 4 in criteria....

 

The only ones I'm not sure of would be the Klitschko matches. Maybe he beats Tyson. Lewis is nearly 50-50 but I prefer Bowe's athleticism and combos. But Bowe comes out well here.

 

Larry Holmes, who's biggest challenge would be Lennox Lewis.

 

I can see Walcott beating Bowe, more than Bowe beating Walcott.....

 

I've always viewed Bowe as a H2H monster and amazingly skilled fighter when he's right. Excellent jab, smashing overhand right, great combos, exceptional infightiing ability, good chin.

 

:good

 

Bowe got hit way too much

 

Marciano and Louis would beat him Lewis would be a challenge

 

Max Schmeling

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- he wouldn´t beat Louis more than once IMO

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22. Max Schmeling

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- two tough fights

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Baer would beat him 2 of 3 IMO....

 

1/3

 

As he recently did with Marciano. Not so interesting, anymore, actually.

 

When did Larry say that? Got a link?

 

We're talking about a round robin against ATGs and it's the head-cases like Riddick Bowe and Sonny Liston that are getting undeserving traction to keep their composure and focus in the face of constant adversity when they couldn't even sustain it in their own time. Amusing. Of course, it's the hard-working, always determined and relatively versatile types like Holyfield that will constantly go forgotten.

I suspect, you got to favor the bigger, taller type HWs that can control fights and go unscathed far easier. The Lewis, Holmes, Ali types I'd suspect should do the most favorable. However, is this round-robin that's happening arbitrarily? Does Tyson have to fight Ali last? Does Ali fight Frazier first? Are all these fights presumably done in some tangent universe where you're taking the best peak version of two fighters and pitting them against each other, independently of other matchups. Meaning does durability and wear & tear come into play, or are we thinking peak Liston and Tyson cloned 25 times to fight for each night they meet an ATG opponent?

 

Honestly, if wear & tear is a factor. Vitali Klitschko is a dark horse. He's a survivor, and he might be able to last the course going the most unscathed (Yeah, the Lewis fight, and injured against Byrd. Still).

*Edit*

If I'm making picks, I think the top 5 favorites would be

Ali
Holmes
Lewis
Holyfield
Tyson

Not necessarily in order, but these guys are the 5 favorites to have the best record in my eyes. Yeah, Holyfield was inconsistent during his own career, but I'm not assuming he has hepattis or heart problems in these fights. He's a fighter, he'll win the most upsets I bet. The Frazier, Marciano, Dempsey types haven't got a chance really. Tyson, I believe can decimate enough of the opponent early enough to not have too much of a wear and tear issue, although he probably wouldn't be one of my top 3 picks. Louis just isn't going to do it, sorry folks. Liston has everything on paper, but I suspect him to fold mid-way in the tournament. I seriously doubt he would make the top 3. Bowe will have his own focus issues, I'm sure. I guess Bowe and Vitali are the dark-horses, though. Actually, Foreman is a dark horse as well. He could obliterate the second tier fighters and swarmers, and compete in the tougher matchups well enough to be in the top 3. He had the mentality to make up for his shortcomings, unlike his mentor who was scarred of crazy people and clowns.

 

His last interview with Brian Kenny on ESPN radio. Someone posted it here, I believe Bill. I'll try to find a link. He definitely said it, though. Some people here honestly thought it was damage control.