Is Larry Holmes a consensus top ten heavyweight?

You definitely have a point, but Frazier should get hid due for decisively defeating his best comp (stopping Chuvalo, Quarry and Ellis among others) before even facing Ali, and an aging Norton showed against Holmes that he was a very tough opponent for anyone without a big punch.

As for Holmes, he sits right below Ali and Louis for me. Too bad he never unified and he really didn't conduct himself like a champion during the last few years of his reign, but he never lost in his prime, was the best HW in the world for some 7-8 years and stayed world class well into his 40's. Not many can say the same.

 

Concur ^. Top 10 for sure. (The "jockstrap" comment was a negative)

 

I agree to a point but Futch worked with Frazier`s team and said the developed the jerky bobbing and weaving tactic out of sinc so`s to disrupt Ali`s jab and Futch told Norton to also mess up Ali`s flowing jab by jabbing with him, nobody ever got advise that detailed while fighting Tyson, Tucker did a lot of clever things and Spinks was still thinking well despite the fear but he didn`t have the chin that Tucker had, I would also say the brawling roughness that gave Holmes problems fighting Norton is something none of Tyson`s opponents displayed and Frazier was way tougher than Tyson`s opponents including Tucker who may well of been able to use his reach to beat Frazier but still with a great jaw he couldn`t rough people up with a constant vicious hook like smokin Joe.

 

It was but entirely understandable given the circumstances imo. Rocky's brother? should have had more class that night. I believe the full quote was,
" if we are talking about talent Rocky couldn't carry my jock strap".
I would agree with that.

 

I find that kind of hard to believe.

 

I think that'd have been big even in his time.

His biggest crime was being the "bad guy" to two of the bigger fan favorite heavyweight champs sandwiching the beginning and end of his title career.

Ali for the beat down of a beloved legend, which started things off on a sour note from the get go. Then Marciano, for both the threatening of 49-0 and the unfortunate comment about the jock strap.

If only he had found a way to fit Louis and Dempsey in there somehow, he'd have had the major bases covered lol.

 

The easton assassin top 5

 

williams gave him a good argument too

 

He was seen as having a chip on his shoulder when he was fighting. I love me some larry holmes but gotta admit i was rooting for him to get beat when i was a kid. Hindsight is wonderful, for me at least, as larry just couldnt articulate himself the way he wanted without coming across poorly (at the time)

 

Larry holmes was plenty tough! LOL! Pinklon thomas was NEVER knocked down before fighting tyson or afterwards ever again.

This thread isnt about him. Its about larry, again the focus wasnt on any of the 80s heavies or their attributes and strengths because larry and tyson were so dominant. Im sure if tucker had pulled it off or carl williams had gotten the decision against larry, they would have cited a tactical measure they took that helped their success.

Infact only when the 2 dominant champs of the 80s slipped up and were beaten was any attention paid to their opponents and what enabled them to win! Do you really think fighters endure an entire training camp to fight the heavyweight champ without coming up with a strategy??

Norton and Fraziers strategy againt ali just happens to be well known because they pulled it off against a guy who wasnt the same anymore.
Granted ali might have still had trouble with norton on his best day but nortons record against other top fighters is very unconvincing and so is fraziers compared to larry

 

Absolutely top ten. I have him around 6 or 7 at least

 

Easiest answer ever for me, yes. Top 5, same answer.

 

Staple top 5 for me. Right behind Ali and Louis, sharing the 3/4 spot with Lennox.

 

Holmes biggest issue was coming behind possibly the greatest heavyweight of all time and in front of possibly the most devastating and dangerous. His jab was the best in the history of the division in my opinion ( Ali's was faster Liston was harder) but neither combined the two better. A very underrated and educated right hand, rather it be straight right, over hand, hook, or uppercut. Above average foot speed, a good chin and defense with even better recupetive powers, in my opnion he's the 2nd best heavy in history. Prime vs prime, best night vs best night he beats all heavys with the exception of Ali.