Larry Holmes Interview

True, I guess If Larry had of won he wouldn’t have given a flying crap if Peter congratulated him or not. I guess little ol’ Spinks really jinxed his party.

 

As much as I would have found the idea of Larry Holmes scissor kick little Pete Marciano from the podium of his press conference quite funny...at that time it would have been a terrible blow for boxing. Larry was very lucky his legendary car park fracas with “mad Trev” was so much more of a low key part of his career. I think that’s the only reason he ever gets away with that. ..But as champion it would have been unthinkable.

The difference was Michael Spinks really had the right game plan at just the right time in Larrys career. The difference was technical rather than physical.

 

I think you're right, my friend.

 

Cracking up! You rule, @choklab

 

I agree with all except Norton beating Tyson. Though I feel Norton's vulnerability to big punchers is vastly overstated, I think it's quite possible Tyson is the worst stylistical H2H match up for him.

 

I agree, but wouldn't be surprised if a couple of shots from Ken rocked him hard.

I don't think it would be a Cooney or Shavers super fast ko, Norton might make it up to four rounds. Mike just had the type of punch that would ultimately provide Norton's doom, no question there.

 

Norton would be lucky to hear the bell ending round one. Tyson is actually a worse matchup for him than Shavers and Foreman incredible as it sounds. Ridiculously one sided short affair.

 

I still stand by saying that I think it was bad taste for peter to openly root for Holmes’s downfall when he was technically a guest of Larrys to help promote the fight... but if you listen to the full jockstrap speech It is Larry that first provoked the Marciano family. He had already made the Jockstrap claim when Peter began to heckle the former champion. It was the sight of people congratulating Peter at the back of the hall that offended Larry. And we all know Larry could be too honest for his own good.

I will be honest, I don’t think the American boxing press in the 1980s were particularly as sensitive as they might be today. Holmes was rubbed up the wrong way a few times by them and each time it was brushed over and said that Larry had a chip on his shoulder over having to come up after Ali, well he certainly was not blameless, but the American press stoked that situation. In those days they thought they were above the champions. They respected Ali. Nobody else.

 

We are in agreement just to clarify.

 

Tyson was much faster than both of these men and also much more intimidating. He might not have hit quite as hard but it would've been more than enough in this case.

 

Yes for sure, just piggybacking your post.

 

I guess the thing that has me seeing Norton making more than two rounds (not much more) is precisely the fact that Tyson didn't hit as hard as Cooney or Shavers...not to mention, Norton was a better fighter than either of the latter (easily).

But hey, Ken got surprised by the GWD Cooney so...

 

Tyson is immensely faster than Cooney (p.s. Norton was shot by the time he fought Cooney) or Shavers and so much better at finding a home for his big punches. He is also multiple levels above either. He would be on top of Norton in the blink of an eye and his blazing handspeed and variety of punches would overwhelm Kenny. Kenny was vulnerable when backing up against front line punches and Tyson consistently put more pressure on straight up than any heavyweight ever. He also had one punch power and would not be far behind anyone on that front. He could also string them together and was a great finisher.

 

Holmes bettered Ali in sparring and was too fast for Ali, a reason why Ali kicked him out of his camp in the mid '70s.

Had Holmes been Foreman's opponent instead of Jimmy Young, you can make a good case for him being the #1 overall heavyweights.

I also think he could have beaten Ali years sooner than he did.