Larry Holmes makes first title defense vs. Alfredo Evangelista

Holmes a great fighter, but needed a good set of challengers to cement his legacy. Always seemed to put his mouth in gear...before the brain engaged, re: marketing his own fights.

 

BS! He said what was on his mind! He was maybe the greatest heavyweight ever. He never said anything really bad. He's a good guy, never a scandal, good family man. Very smart guy, not punchdrunk and broke like so many others. I know many disagree, but I think Holmes was a class guy!

 

I like Larry. People get so worked up because he wasn't Ali and committed the unpardonable sin of exhibiting a lack of deference. Screw them.

 

He only went through 7th grade and was poor growing up. He seemed to have a huge inferiority complex that he tried to mask by being crass. Crass not class.

No way he's the best he all time.

 

Alfredo was strictly b class, I would have taken Scott LeDoux to beat him, his lasting against Ali was testament of how bad Ali's condition was and Alfredo looked equally awful. Larry never quite got his due, the best of his generation faulted for not fighting some of the top contenders yet few think they would have beat him. The one weapon Larry never developed was a left hook but then his right uppercut was very good, he had alot if not everything as champion, then again who would you say did?

 

Larry holmes was a complete idiot... And all you who defend him can suck my big balls.like norton said..."Ali,Foreman,Frazier and what is your name?" champions Forever

 

Holmes feels that it is unfair that he is not compared to Louis and Ali.

My sympathy stands at about 6 out of 10!

He had the benefit of a weak era, and he still avoided a lot of the best talent.

He should consider himself lucky that he is so highly regarded on this forum, because that is probably a moderately generous interpretation!

 

Holmes is not just highly regarded here but pretty much everywhere. The man is a top five all time heavyweight. At times he was a bit grating and socially abrasive but he was young, angry and a bit graceless from a social perspective. That being said he was as kind hearted outside the ring as he was courageous inside of it. Now at age 68 he still is married to his longtime wife, is a terrific father and grandfather, has retained all his considerable marbles and has a lot of coin still socked away.

This was a standard first defense after winning the title in a tough bout .. he demolished Evangelista like few ever haven started a dominant title reign.

 

I really don't get what Larry ever said to **** so many people off. Never said anything that bothered me. Just dealt with the facts as he saw them

 

Agreed!!!

 

Lol.. Yes be careful with alfredo

 

Yes Holmes was impressively dominant in some of his wins against overwhelmed challengers like Evangelista and Occasio, but if you're going to grade him favorably for that, how to you rate his fights where he looked either flabby or uninspired or downright ragged, like against Zannon, Smith, or Williams?

If he was focused and dialed in for each and every title defense it would really help his legacy.

 

Larry's long term chip on the shoulder and continual bitterness turned a lot of people off. He didn't come across well. Maybe he was a bit short on education and he probably needed some guidance public relations wise.

As stated he was a great family man and seemed to be extremely generous and far more relaxed out of the public eye.

The Berbick incident is indeed awesome.

Edit - Another drama for Larry was that he used to get quite disrespectful to some of his opponents. He had some rather ordinary things to say about some guys.

 

Holmes could come across as very bitter. The comment he most regretted was after the Spink's loss and he said Marciano couldn't carry his jockstrap. However like Hagler he mellowed overtime and his legacy appreciated.