Larry Holmes - June 11th 1982 - The perfect Heavyweight?

I don’t know how to opt for The perfect Heavyweight.
It can be: Muhammad Ali 1967, Larry Holmes 1982, Tyson Fury (Wilder 2) ...
Surely Joe Louis would have something to say about "The Perfect Heavyweight."
And the story of The Perfect Heavyweight doesn’t end with Joe Louis; there are more examples ...

 

He was insane at that time but I feel Mike Tyson wa the most skiled heavyweight of all-time, however he was very small for a heavyweight whereas Holmes 81 inch jab wa perfect for that weight so he`s certainly in the arguement but P4P Tyson was the best heavyweight ever but threw away his career, Tyson was so fast at heavyweight that if he was a welter or a middleweight he would have been unbeatable, but Holmes was certainly special, a very rare talent indeed.

 

Yes there is great evidence that Holmes had more heart than Tyson, that is true.

 

He wasn't perfect but he was certainly damn good.

Holmes was actually a teeny bit better again in 1980 for mine.

 

As far as everything that goes into being a champion? Yes. He had the size, skill, experience. Holmes had proven himself in everyway imaginable. He wasn't the chosen one coming through the ranks.

Larry Holmes had to live down the Duane Bobick loss in the amateurs early in his career. The way he lost many suggested he was a quitter. His own promoter Don King didn't think Holmes was anything special. He was Ali's sparring partner, not a big puncher.
On the way through the heavyweight ranks Larry was matched as an opponent. Short notice fights like the bout with Roy Tiger Williams. Funny thing Larry just kept winning. He even had the nerve to box the ears off of King's favorite Ernie Shavers.
I think it was the Tiger Williams fight that Holmes objected to short notice and Don threatened to have his legs broken. Besides that ofcourse King was stealing roughly 50% Larry earnings.

Then when he does reach prominence as the leading heavyweight in the division he has the ghost of Ali trying to get a reach back. Holmes didn't want to necessarily beat up his mentor but he did what he had to do.
That pretty much is the theme of his career. Did what he had to do and did it better than anyone else. So yea perfect is not that far off when discussing true a champion of this caliber.

 

That's right,Fergy. The likes of Ali and Holmes displayed great heart when they were really up against it - Ali rallying in Manila after being on the brink of being stopped. Holmes against Shavers in their second fight when Larry was virtually knocked out and revived himself to stop Earnie. These two guys took honours in those kind of ordeals. Tyson on the other hand,did n't. Anytime he was up against it he caved in.

 

True. It's almost like Earnie had become heavyweight champion for around nine seconds! Then Larry regained the title after the tenth second

 

I don't agree with the idea that Tyson is "more skilled" than Holmes. That just doesn't make sense. At what? They had completely different skill sets and styles. There's no point in comparing them. Tyson had good skills for an aggressive fighter constantly boring in and trying to crush you, and Holmes was a consummate boxer with great movement and an all-time great jab. Apples and oranges.

 

Yes Holmes peaked around that time…he was superb that night. Cooney was at his best around that period too, not the shell that was flattened by Michael Spinks later in the decade.