Larry Holmes is a top 5 heavyweight of all time

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SonnyListonsJab, Jun 15, 2011.


Page 1 of 4
  1. SonnyListonsJab

    SonnyListonsJab Active Member Full Member

    1,148
    3
    Apr 24, 2011
    1. He had 20 title defenses during a talented era

    2. Defeated a wide variety of styles(Punchers, Stylists, Jabbers, Spoilers), good quality, and amazing depth

    3. Defeated a lot of young undefeated ranked contenders and future world champions

    4. Defeated a lot of very talented and powerful big men

    5. Had amazing longevity, recorded one of the best ( 40 + years of age) wins in HW history by defeating an undefeated WBO champion and Olympic Gold Medalist.

    6. Never lost during his prime

    7. Beat 2 top 30 heavyweights of all time when they were in/near their prime: Ken Norton, Tim Witherspoon.

    8. H2H: 6'3 215lb, with an 82" reach. Possessed amazing handspeed, top notch boxing skills, the greatest jab of all time, a whole assortment of dangerous punches ranging from hooks, uppercuts, straight right hands, and solid stamina. His jab was a thing of beauty, it snapped out there so fast, like a viper. It was impossible to defend against. What made him even more of a beast was he had a warriors mentality. Holmes was tough as ****. He had a great chin, and a mean attitude. He would rather die than quit. Larry took some of the biggest shots you can take and got up everytime. Even if you had him in trouble, he would keep punching back and never give up. Had the heart of a lion. So you add his toughness to his physical attributes, and you have a damm near impossible fighter to beat in his prime.


    My one criticism: Not unifying ever against any of the Major Alphabet Soup Champions and giving up his WBC title rather than fight Greg Page. Had he done these things, I think he would easily be a top 1-2 heavyweight of all time. As of now, he sits firmly and comfortably in my top 4.
     
    SonnyListonsJab, Jun 15, 2011
    SonnyListonsJab, Jun 15, 2011
    #1
  2. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,748
    21,566
    Nov 24, 2005
    He's the greatest heavyweight we've seen since the Muhammad Ali era, in my opinion.
    Greater than any others who have come since.
     
    Unforgiven, Jun 15, 2011
    Unforgiven, Jun 15, 2011
    #2
  3. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,229
    257
    Oct 22, 2009
    Tim Witherspoon a Top30 hw. :lol:
     
    bodhi, Jun 15, 2011
    bodhi, Jun 15, 2011
    #3
  4. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    1. Ali
    2. Holmes
    3. Johnson
    4. Louis
    5. Lewis

    :deal

    MR.BILL:hat
     
    MRBILL, Jun 15, 2011
    MRBILL, Jun 15, 2011
    #4
  5. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,081
    8,468
    Jul 17, 2009
    I have him,pretty consistently as my number 3.
     
    Stevie G, Jun 15, 2011
    Stevie G, Jun 15, 2011
    #5
  6. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    61,114
    45,384
    Feb 11, 2005
    Johnson #3? Really? Based on what? Fighting McVea and Jeanette a hundred times (two guys who would be laughed out of a gym today)... or beating up a supermiddle with a womanly waist in Burns? Or an old hasbeen just back from the Fat Farm in Jeffries? Or perhaps it was those sterling performances against Choynski, Hart, O'Brien, Jim Johnson and Willard...

    Holmes is top 5. And in other news, the sky is blue.
     
    Seamus, Jun 15, 2011
    Seamus, Jun 15, 2011
    #6
  7. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

    27,674
    7,650
    Dec 31, 2009
    you gotta rate larry. hes my #5 ATG heavyweight, far and away the best heavyweight of his era.
     
    choklab, Jun 15, 2011
    choklab, Jun 15, 2011
    #7
  8. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,081
    8,468
    Jul 17, 2009
    Pity he never got to fight the likes of Dokes,Page,Thomas etc. Though I don't blame Holmes for these fights not being made.
     
    Stevie G, Jun 15, 2011
    Stevie G, Jun 15, 2011
    #8
  9. SonnyListonsJab

    SonnyListonsJab Active Member Full Member

    1,148
    3
    Apr 24, 2011
    Absolutely. Spoon was a 2x heavyweight champion. Defeated Greg Page, Tony Tubbs, Bonecrusher Smith, and Frank Bruno. That's 4 victories over prime Alpha heavyweight champions. Also gave ATG Larry Holmes a very close split decision fight in an underrated war.

    Witherspoon was very slick, top chin, excellent skills, solid defense, good jab, and a powerful right hand.


    Name me 30 guys who were better
     
    SonnyListonsJab, Jun 15, 2011
    SonnyListonsJab, Jun 15, 2011
    #9
  10. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

    19,654
    52
    Jan 19, 2010
    sometimes i wonder whether mr bill is mentally challenged
     
    Swarmer, Jun 15, 2011
    Swarmer, Jun 15, 2011
    #10
  11. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

    27,674
    7,650
    Dec 31, 2009
    1.joe louis
    2 muhammad ali
    3 rocky marciano
    4 dempsey
    5 holmes
    6 johnson
    7 lennox lewis
    8 hollyfield
    9 foreman
    10 tyson
    11 baer
    12jeffries
    13 schmeling
    14liston
    15patterson
    16charles
    17wallcot
    18frazier
    19ingo johanason
    20primo carnera
    21buster douglas
    22gene tunney
    23 riddick bowe
    24 willard
    25 sharkey
    26 tommy burns
    27 jimmy ellis
    28 mike spinks
    29 braddock
    30 archie moore
    IMO these heavyweights all had a beter resume, beter wins and beat spoon..
     
    choklab, Jun 15, 2011
    choklab, Jun 15, 2011
    #11
  12. Steenalized

    Steenalized Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,337
    1
    Sep 20, 2010
    I typically have him at about #3, behind Louis and Ali.
     
    Steenalized, Jun 15, 2011
    Steenalized, Jun 15, 2011
    #12
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,669
    28,984
    Jun 2, 2006
    I have him around no 5.
     
    mcvey, Jun 15, 2011
    mcvey, Jun 15, 2011
    #13
  14. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    18,092
    15,557
    Dec 20, 2006
    No offense to you personally, but Mr. Bill has been a classy poster here for multiple years very seldom denegrates other posters (HINT!!!!) and has an entitlement to his opinions....in other words he has been an assett to the classic forum for years....

    Perhaps your focus should be on your own reputation around here rather than Bill's ....Peace!
     
    PhillyPhan69, Jun 15, 2011
    PhillyPhan69, Jun 15, 2011
    #14
  15. Scottrf

    Scottrf Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,547
    0
    May 1, 2010
    All those losses are past prime. It's like saying Ray Robinson shouldn't be looked upon highly for losing to Joey Archer and Ralph Jones.

    Ali
    Louis
    Holmes

    for me.
     
    Scottrf, Jun 15, 2011
    Scottrf, Jun 15, 2011
    #15
Page 1 of 4