Is larry holmes jab overrated?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jay1990, Feb 6, 2018.


  1. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,443
    12,845
    Apr 1, 2007
    I once saw that man knock down ol' slippery Ossie with a jab.

    Didn't he stun or knock down Leon Spink's with a jab as well?

    Man had a hell of a jab. How about we just agree to disagree?
     
    JC40 likes this.
  2. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    51,363
    41,300
    Apr 27, 2005
    What jabs do you rate higher.

    My problem with Holmes jab wasn't so much the jab itself, it was more so that he dropped it so often coming back.
     
    PhillyPhan69, Jay1990 and JC40 like this.
  3. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

    396,088
    78,335
    Nov 30, 2006
    Holmes took Ali's jab and refined it (and built his entire career on it, whereas Ali doesn't typically get thought of as first and foremost and near-exclusively a jabber the way Holmes is, alongside few others in history besides Quartey), so no, I don't think you can rate Ali's over his.

    As for Lewis', he might have been modeling himself off Holmes (or their mutual idol, Ali) but I don't think he ever quite got there. Lewis was too in love with his power to ever reach that plane of mastery with the lead hand.
     
    Man_Machine likes this.
  4. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,485
    4,882
    Jan 7, 2007
    Holmes had an ATG jab no doubt, but my favorite was Ali's during the first Jerry Quarry fight. Ali's jab in that fight was cobra quick, all the more impressive because it was his first fight after a 3 year layoff and against a top contender.
     
  5. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

    396,088
    78,335
    Nov 30, 2006
    Yeah, if you want to say Ali's on certain nights bested Holmes' on certain nights, that's fair play. Sum of their parts though, I think you've got go with Larry.
     
  6. joebeadg

    joebeadg Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,909
    1,014
    Dec 3, 2005
    Have u seen that jab??? How could it be overrated?????? WTF? I mean, even if you favored ali's or Foremans over it, you have to think its one of the best jabs ever.
     
    OP_TheJawBreaker likes this.
  7. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,959
    4,797
    Jun 24, 2017
    Most notable jabbers tend to do that as well as holding it too low before launching it.
     
  8. Wvboxer

    Wvboxer Active Member Full Member

    562
    261
    Apr 20, 2013
    Holmes had an all time jab. Great combo of speed & power. Definitely one of the best.

    Ali's jab is up there. That first Quarry fight is a great example of how good his jab was. Not sure I'd put it over Holmes though.

    Carl Williams had a superb jab! Honestly, he's pretty close to Holmes to me. The guy who's jab seems a a bit overrated to me is Pinklon Thomas. Just doesn't have the snap of the guys I mentioned above.
     
  9. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    13,051
    11,210
    Mar 19, 2012
    Holmes certainly had one of the best jabs of all-time. He worked it overtime. He depended on it. Ali's was slightly better IMO. Ali had more overall talent than Holmes so his jab was'nt always the focus.
     
    Jay1990 and JohnThomas1 like this.
  10. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,333
    829
    Jul 22, 2004
    If Larry didn't have that ATG jab, fighters would have walked right thru him. It was piston like, and held a huge plethora of opponents at bay. His greatest asset, among several.
     
    JC40 and Mendoza like this.
  11. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

    55,255
    10,330
    Jun 29, 2007
    Nit picking? Holmes had a great jab. Top 5 all-time at heavyweight, with many thinking he had the best heavyweight jab of all time. I'd argue he did, thanks to Holmes versatility of the punch.

    It had speed

    It had length

    It had accuracy from a stationary stance or moving.

    It could be used to set up for the offense or keep someone else away

    And is could snap his opponents head back and hurt them.

    But don't take my word for it, watch Holmes jab in action below:

    This content is protected
     
  12. Cobra33

    Cobra33 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,114
    11,399
    Feb 2, 2006
    Holmes jab was still a major weapon when he was into his forties.
    Holmes had the best jab I've ever seen.
     
    Mendoza likes this.
  13. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,587
    2,483
    Oct 18, 2004
    Larry definitely had a great jab. Page, Williams, and Thomas come close. Shame Larry couldn't use that jab on Don King lol.
     
  14. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,040
    6,252
    Jan 22, 2009
    Ouch,LMMFAO. Don't ever change, my brother.
     
    Boxed Ears likes this.
  15. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,308
    9,070
    Jun 9, 2010
    The legendary Holmes without the legendary jab wouldn't have become legendary at all - if that makes any sense :thinking:
     
    mcvey, JC40 and JohnThomas1 like this.