Larry Holmes - Overrated or Underrated?

The point about being sandwiched between two hugely marketable champs is interesting because -- as you allude to with Johnson -- it happened at least once before.

Willard came between Johnson and Dempsey, just as Holmes came between Ali and Tyson.

But Holmes has been judged well by posterity. Willard...has not. That alone says something about Holmes's abilities beyond the superficial glamour.

 

Pretty much where he belongs.. top 10

 

Overrated.

 

Holmes, compared with the other candidates (e.g. any one of the perennial names in the top-15 ATG Heavyweights), has at least as good, if not a better claim to the number-3 spot.

His ledger stacks up very well against the typical top-ten shouts and going undefeated, during his youth/prime years, weighs well in his favor.

As with most lists, much relies on a subjective assessment and Holmes, I suspect, benefits more than most from the [eye-test] viewpoints of his performances alone - but this is for good reason. Holmes’ consistency, in which he demonstrated a high-level of technical skill, throughout his tenure, is difficult to overlook, such was its prevalence.

There is, of course, a case to be made against him holding a high top-ten rating. The latter years of his Championship see a dip in the quality of opposition (in my opinion) - relative to that available - and his twin losses to Spinks cast a shadow. The extent to which this offsets his prime years depends on how much load one wants to put on these post-prime factors.

Again, comparatively, how much negative load do these post-prime facets of Holmes’ career actually warrant? On balance, I don’t think they take too much away from Holmes’ legacy.

 

I'm sorry, since when the Carl Williams, Mike Weaver and Tim Witherspoon B level fighters? Holmes opposition is as good (If not) better than Lewis.

The problem is, Holmes has more than a jab. He has an elite chin, excellent ring iq, good power, nice footwork, good handspeed and most importantly.. HEART.

His fight with Ali is debatable.

George Foreman who loses to boxers like Jimmy Young and Ali and you're saying he beats Holmes? LOL George got easily outmaneuvered by Tommy who is never known for having amazing boxig skills.

Lewis struggled with an overweight Mercer while Larry SCHOOLED Mercer at his best. He most likely gets beat by Holmes, not the other way around.

 

Then there's Norton and (at the time of their fight) Cooney. Snipes and Berbick were top contenders. Simth and Witherspoon went on to become champs. Holmes even stopped Bonecrusher, something prime Mike Tyson couldn't do.

 

Holmes dominated the 80's HW. The most talented HW era imo. Bonecrusher is a force to be reckoned with, a solid puncher who can take a punch. He fought Ruddock in a close fight when he was past his prime and even dropped him. Washed up Dokes gave Holyfield hell. Witherspoon's loss against Mercer was daylight robbery. Tubbs went competitive with Riddick Bowe. Old Bruno gave Lewis a tough fight. 90 HWs are generally overrated (they produce entertaining fights) but their talents are f*cking overrated. Look how many old 80's fighters going compettitive with 90s HWs.

Cooney and Morrison are very devastating Great White Hope punchers of their day, the difference is that Holmes beat Cooney in his absolute prime. I don't understand why Holmes opposition is "weak". Guys like bonecrusher is better than most who Lewis beat including Golota, Rahman, McCall, Akiwande, Mason, etc. Not to mention that Holmes was starting show age when he beat Smith.

 

He didn’t fight Dokes and Tubbs.

 

I know. It still doesn't take the point of what I'm trying to say.

 

Schmeling, Baer, Conn and Walcott are all considered greats. Maybe they shouldn't be. I'll leave that to you.

 

Absolutely it does. He didn’t dominate his era, which is the claim in your opening sentence. Nor did he fight Pink, Page, Coetzee and others. You get a C-.