Larry Holmes Latest Remarks, ALI, Lewis,Frazier..

Right, good point. Anybody wanna claim, all things considered, that Holmes was a better fighter than Ali?

 

I'm agreeing with CHin on this one. If I had as many beautiful women on me as muhammad ali I'd probably be a man ***** too. On a sidenote Larry Holmes is a dick and he looked like a ****ing gecko when Tyson knocked him out. And by his own logic there should be no excuses for that since according to Holmes Ali should have been able to fight him just fine at 38 years old.

 

Holmes said in his book that he knew that Ali wasn't a very good gym fighter. He also said that he got his ass kicked all through out 1971, and by 1972 it was getting a little closer, and by the end of 73 he was giving Muhammad a run for his money. He said he felt by 1975 he could take Ali in a real fight, and felt he couldn't learn much more so he left. In my opinion Holmes could have beaten Ali in a real fight from about the Roy Williams fight on. So about 1976 or so. It's odd, he give Norton a ton of respect and such. I think he's the type of fighter where if you're in a war with him, you earn a ton of respect from him. Hagler was the same way in that manner.

 

He looked like a gecko? But you're right Larry was definately holding a double standard there. Larry is truly a different guy in person, it seems he just acts up and mouths off when the media is around. Him and Joe Frazier are really best buddies and him and Muhammad are still pals.

 

He gives plenty of it out in the gym and in his resturant.

 

People seem to understand Frazier's irritation with Ali more than Holmes.

At least Frazier didn't have to work in Ali's shadow for years and be directly compared to him for even longer.

 

ali gave him black eye one time, which holmes was very proud of and in that famous sparring, after every round where ali spanks him, he said... o larry, you're so gooood... sooooo fast... you shoulda been a champion, not me... and then another round and another spanking.... nice story!

 

Poor Larry. He was only one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

 

Its not larry's fault that Foreman didnt want to fight him, dominating someone like him would have really sealed his legacy.

 

Larry Holmes is the Greatest Heavyweight Champion they never want to acknowledge.
Boxing History can't hold his Jock strap.

H2H Vs. Anyone, Gimme Holmes.
[52 year old Homes still was kicking ass...]

 

Greater than Ali, Liston, Marciano, Frazier, etc. or just the greatest that nobody wants to acknowledge?

 

Greatest that nobody wants to acknowledge?
But at the same time, besides Louis & Ali...Who else can beat him?

 

Looking back over Larry's career I understand his anger. First of all he was not as verbally gifted as say Ali, having dropped out of school in seventh grade to help out his family. Holmes never had the Olympic credentials that offer exposure and the ability to generate decent cash when beginning a pro career. Larry began on undercards for little cash and usually held a full time job on the side. After toiling away in the division he becomes HW champion at the end of the Ali era and people are searching for another likeable, talkative champ to fill the void left my Muhammad. Larry was not that guy, instead the people took to Ray Leonard and others. Larry didn't do himself any favors by beating "The Greatest" in a one sided affair either, though Holmes himself did not want that match. Holmes defended his title for seven and a half years and at nearly every fight people rooted for his opponent. Norton(for the title), Shavers, Cooney, etc.. Often times Holmes, enraged by the lack of respect and attention he was given would erupt. People would be outraged and the press would eat it up and label Larry a poor sport. Holmes had no way to win in his position as he saw it. He was the Rodney Dangerfiled of the champions. He had great talent, courage and championship heart but he never captivated the media which manipulates the audiences feelings about individuals. To this day headlines scream "Holmes kicked out of Hall of Fame" and such. They still love to justify their stories that Holmes is a jerk, he is bitter. The reality is much different though and those who actually know Larry know the REAL story. Aside from being married to the same woman for nearly thirty years and a family man one never heard of Holmes in trouble with the law for drugs, DUI, assault or womanizing etc.. He donates his time and money to charities and is generous with friends and family. He worked hard at his job and held the title for seven and one half years and then came out of retirement to fight till age 52 and still could have beaten top ten fighters even at that age!

From a personal point of view I know Larry to be one of the funniest, most sincere and generous men I have met. Always willing to help out without asking for anything in return. Sure he may pop off once in a while and the press might point to his statements and shout to us "hey look what an ass this guy is" but MUCH is taken out of context. Larry does say what he is feeling and he is always telling things as he honestly sees it. Some things Larry says we don't want to accept and it is easy to just call Holmes an ass or a jerk as has been promoted by the media which is a shame because listening to Larry you find out a lot of truth in his words.

 

Spion - good post. Absolutely right.

I loved, and still love, "The Easton Assassin". He was a brave, though provoking man, who was unfortunately the victim of being Ali's following act, but without the Olympic credentials/management. He was a fine boxer, no, a great one, with one of the most reverred jabs of all the weight divisions.

I remember in ad back in 1984 that was running in the sports magazines - it said, "If you ask the average man on the street who's the Heavyweight Champion of the World, he's not going to say 'well you see, there are three ...'. No, he's going to say 'Larry Holmes'.

That's how I felt about it. He was a true Champion.