"Holmes vs. Snipes" 1981...

I thought Holmes looked like a naturally trained athlete when he was in his prime weighing 211, 212 & 213 pounds back in the early 1980s........ He was in-shape and lethal.... Holmes began to look soft and somewhat bloated in 1984 and onward..... By 1984, Larry Holmes was comfortable at 220 to 221 pounds........ By the 1990s, it was the 230s and 240s...... Peace...

MR.BILL:deal

 

That's what I've told many people......... Holmes was decked hard by Snipes in round 7, but Holmes got up and shook off the blow and took charge of Snipes by the end of the round.......

Still, I like to review my "Holmes-Snipes" and "Holmes-Cooney" tapes when I'm plastered.... I grew up on classic / prime Holmes........

MR.BILL

 

In my book, Holmes took Weaver lightly and paid a small fee to the Piper for it before lowering the boom on Weaver in round 12.... Holmes knew Weaver was mechanical in movement, but Holmes misjudged Weaver's strength and power for a guy who weighed-in at a mere 200 pounds..... Weaver was prolly the strongest even 200 pounder Holmes ever fought.... If memory serves me right, Holmes was near or at 213 for Weaver in 1979..... I have a copy of this fight on file.....

Come 1983, Larry Holmes claimed 213 was too light for him to make. However, Holmes told me in Vegas years later that he had a case of the shits the days leading up to the fight with Tim Spoon, and so it caused him to come in at 213, when infact he was looking at 216 or 217 pounds at the time..... Tim Spoon was 219 and looked strong as an Ox in 1983........ Excuse or not, it was what Holmes said to me in 1992......

As far as Holmes being decked by "Shavers and Snipes" in them fights of 1979 & '81, those were his only real dings or flaws there..... Otherwise, Holmes fought like a master boxer.........

MR.BILL:bbb:hat

 

I remember the Sports Illustrated magazine from 1981 that covered the "Holmes-Snipes" fight and they printed a photo of Larry Holmes staggering into the ring post in the corner when he got up on wobbly legs from Snipes' right-cross...... Classic shot......

MR.BILL:good

 

Renaldo Snipes had good power, but, he lacked skill to administer it on a regular basis.... However, every now and then, Snipes would just wing a crazy shot from right field and get lucky and hit his mark....... Had Snipes had more talent and skill, he might have done much better...... After his '86 loss to Tyrell Biggs up in New York, I basically gave up on Snipes altogether.......

MR.BILL

 

Larry Holmes was ages 29 to 31 and a solid 213 pounds when he was dropped by "Shavers and Snipes" in 1979 and '81.......... Holmes was in-shape and primed as a champion....

Come 1988 against Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes was age 38 and 227 pounds and rusty as a nail in a haunted house...... Holmes' reserve at that juncture was severely hindered........

NOTE:

I do think Holmes was much better in 1992 after them 1991 tune-up fights he had..... Larry Holmes of 1992 was better than he was in 1988...... No Doubt........

MR.BILLhat

 

I was away from home when Snipes floored and out-boxed Berbick on national TV and so I never got to tape the fight.... DAMN!

I also failed to tape Tim Spoon's sketchy dec. win over Snipes, as well...

atsch:blood

MR.BILL:hat