If Larry Holmes had beaten Oliver McCall for the WBC title in 1995

Then I would consider Holmes "another career" as successful as Foreman.
In that case you could watch “dream fight” Holmes vs Foreman; both had long and successful careers, but did not fight.

 

How would this not affect his legacy? Beating McCall who was still fresh from the first Lewis fight and becoming champ would imo definitely put him top 5 all time heavies if he isn't already.

 

It puts him up a little. He's still top five for me, beating McCall just proves how lucky he was to ko Lewis.
A few more rounds won and Holmes is the new champ.

 

I’d rate him higher. Especially since he would have beaten the man who just beat lennox and in so doing acquired another title. Taking it a step further if he had retired right then and there it would have been a great exit

 

Knowing Larry, he'd probably keep going until he lost.

 

Yep. No way would he have retired after winning it back.

At 38 or so, he was retired, had escaped with his health fully intact, tens of millions in the bank, owning half of his little town basically... and then returned and fought on until age 52 for no real reason other than personal challenge and just wanting to fight. He'd have tried to hold on to that title as long as possible.

 

Just out of curiosity just say Holmes did beat McCall and your Holmes's manager, what fighter in top 10 do you think would be the easiest title defence for the old man ?

 

I would not rate him higher based on beating McCall. I think it would depend on any successful defenses of his title.

 

It would also mean Frank Bruno would never win world title either, unless he got a shot at Holmes himself. But i can't see Holmes fighting Frank Bruno.

 

True. The man loved the money too much

 

Slightly higher overall but maybe still the same rank.

This would mean Holmes likely faces post prison Tyson, might be possible he pulls a Mercer?

 

I'd pick Larry to decision Frank for sure.

 

Foreman

 

I'd argue he would deserve top 5 status ATG. McCall isn't the most glamorous opponent, but winning the title again in your 40's is amazing especially because Holmes lacks the power to just turn a fight around instantly and was relying on his smarts and technique. It's a hell of a cherry to put on top of his amazing career in the 80's.

I'd say it would make his comeback better than comeback Foreman since he also had the amazing Mercer performance. Comeback Foreman didn't have a very deep resume outside of Moorer, Cooney, and Rodrigues.