If Larry Holmes replaces Jimmy Young and defeats Foreman

Ali was 38 years old, off for two years, and looked horrible going in against Holmes. I can't believe you're actually making even a half-assed attempt at trying to fabricate an angle on this one.....

 

Ali made a big mistake with Diet pills before that fight and that was a completely shot version of Ali.....IMO Ali was a better version of Holmes but Holmes style( stamina and ability and Ali a little light in the Power dept, still a decent right hand) but Holmes like Norton could fight 15 rds and I can see prime for prime Holmes could give Ali trouble (Young,Norton) because of styles but (Ali had a active and sneaky right hand and I see that being a problem for Holmes over the left hand

 

Agreed.

That would be like comparing the version of Holmes that lost to Mike Spinks against the Ali of Zora Folley timeframe. The conclusion you'd draw is what chance does Holmes really have?

But in there primes it's still a tough fight for Ali and not the style he looks best against. By the same token, this opponent is hardly the facefirst catcher types Larry usually fought either. And it's a distance bout all the way and a competitve bout but the opposition is not going to put either guy in their optimal career best defining fight highlight reels.

 

No, maybe top 3, but if he beat Foreman, would he have been able to beat Norton in late '77?

 

Don't worry your pretty little head there missy, Larry Holmes is included in everyone's short list of heavyweight GOATS. Anyone who don't have him listed, should add him immediately.

 

larry holmes would never beat george foreman in 77 ..... larry holmes looked like utlra **** against tom prater in 77...let alone fighting foreman = he wasnt ready

 

In this scenario both Holmes and Foreman would be enhanced in standing.

Holmes would likley still not be a consensus top 2 pick, but a lot of people would have him there.

 

I agree with this. Foreman's power would always be a factor. I also elieve that Jimmy Young had a better chin than Holmes, and remember how badly he was rocked in the 7th round of their bout...and Young was also of course, far more defensively adept than Holmes. holmes could have won it, but any lapses and he's dead meat.

 

If Holmes had fought Foreman in 1977 instead of Young,he would have got beaten,imo. Even against that 'going off' version of George. Holmes was n't yet ready for that calibre of fighter. He needed his first victory over Earnie Shavers the following year to gain the seasoning required.

 

And yes,Holmes is definitely a top 3 heavyweight.

 

He's in my top ten as it is. To move higher realistically he needed to beat Tate, page, Thomas and spoon.

 

It hurts Foreman's legacy more.. I am not really one of those who thinks George was a really strong ATG. His power was, but even on his comeback he was given 3 title shots to win, and finally challenges Moorer who had one of the weakest chins of most heavyweight champions in history.

 

No, but a definite top 3 fighter.