I think Larry Holmes was jealous of Ali

Just saw this. No time to respond. I'll address it later. Most likely tomorrow.

 

If someone can find a documentary about Larry that ISNT about him being jealous of ALi I will change my mind.

Larry's entire persona is based off being a post ali struggler.

 

No need. It's clear that neither of us is going to have a change of opinion so let's just put an end to it.

 

Larry was bitter, in general.

He probably was jealous because he ruled right after Ali and he simply lacked Ali's charismatic personality. Anybody who ruled after Ali was going to walk in his shadow.

 

The Captain Obvious post of 2015

 

He is or at least, was jealous of George.

George had genial (at least in public) persona during his second career and was able to win the World Title.

Arguably, the only reason Larry kept fighting after the Holyfield loss, is he badly wanted a fight with Foreman.

As for prime for prime Ali v. Holmes,

I think mid 1960's prime Ali is just too quick for prime Holmes. Ali by comfortable UD. He would box around a somewhat plodding Larry. Ali's footwork was light years better than Larry's.

Although Swag can be a blowhard, I agree with him that prime Ali's speed and reflexes would mask any dificiencies he showed later. He wouldn't be there to be hit too much. And he always had a good chin, so he'd take whatever punches Holmes landed on him, then glide out of harm's way.

 

I don’t think that the word “jealousy”, is instructive.

It is a human emotion, which might or might not reflect the validity of the case.

Larry Holmes was consistently sold short during his own time, for reasons that were not entirely fair.

Having said that, if he cared about his legacy more than money, he could have gone after the most challenging fights.

He wan’ts a world where he misses fights with key contenders, avoids rematches with people who gave him close fights, and is still as respected as Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali.

That is not the real world.

 

"In other news, the sky is blue..."

 

I think Joe Frazier really disliked Muhammad Ali!

 

I've always why Ali didn't seem to get on with his old opponents like say, Joe Louis did with his ???

 

Holmes had the misfortune of becoming champ after the Ali era, and he always seemed a little resentful of that fact. But he was a great champ on his own merit. Plus the main reason he made millions is because Ali brought so much attention to that period of heavyweights. Ali did everything except the jab better than Holmes And that's debatable because though Holmes jab was harder, Ali was quicker, and more accurate. Quality of opposition of course its Ali. Toughness and chin see Ernie Shavers fight for both men. Speed , next question...

 

Exact opposites in terms of personality and especially in their treatment of their opponents both in the build-up and during the fights, might help to explain why.