Larry Holmes Says The Toughest Matchup For Him Would've Been Marciano!

What I thought was funny was Kenny bringing Marciano's name up almost apologetically. Seems he may have cleared with Holmes before hand to mention Marciano cuz he could have easily listed a bunch of ATG's and left Rocky's name off the list.

Holmes' reasoning is sound, but this has "set up" question written all over it.

 

Larry Holmes- "I think that Rocky Marciano would have been a bad stylistic match for me"

Modern is better crowd- "Bull**** Larry. How could a cruiserweight ever be competitive against a 220 pound monster like you? You had it right when you were having a tantrum because you had just narrowly failed to duplicat Marciano's record."

 

:good:good:good

 

The big story is that Larry on who would be toughest is guessing just like we are. Hell, we may have even seen more of Marciano and other heavies than him.

You see these boxers make wrong predictions on fights just as much as we would. There are also personal agenda's involved, and not many more so than Holmes.

Here's the rub - just because Larry, or Hopkins, or Louis says they think fighter X from the past (or present yada) would be toughest doesn't make it so whatsoever.

 

I think we have to distinguish between fighters guessing or predicting who is going to win a fight from the quite different situation of saying something about who would give them the toughest fight. Aren't those two different things?

Furthermore, if fighters of the quality of Holmes, Ali, Louis or Frazier, have something to say about who would give them the toughest fight, I guess even you, JohnThomas, will have to listen. I figure they know more about the matter than you.

Tell me who would know better than them?

So their saying this about Marciano does give great weight to their assertions although it doesn't make their statements absolutely true. But it is a close as you will probably come in this uncertain world.

Now saying who would win is something altogether different as I said. And no fighter is going to say he is going to lose, even if he knows the fight would be his toughest.

However, based on what the fighters say themselves about who would give them the toughest fight, we are in a better position to evaluate what may happen. So if they think Marciano would be their toughest opponent, or the toughest opponent for anyone else, then I imagine the chance of Marciano winning is pretty good.

I would like to urge again that you think over the extraordinary convergence of opinion regarding Marciano that we find among the heavyweight greats. They precisely pin down the very (obvious for the most part) characteristics of Marciano so many of you discuss. And while the motives for their opinions may be diverse, it is extraordinary to see such unity of views. Indeed, the very diversity of their motives gives strength to the central truth they attempt to express.

Have you ever noticed that not one of these heavyweight greats who have discussed how tough Marciano would be, not one has mentioned his weight except in so far as it might even be an advantage for him? At least I haven't noticed his weight mentioned as a disadvantage. Yet on this site the never ending dull and dreary refrain continues- Marciano is too small.

I think it would benefit us all to learn as much as we can from these fighters.

 

he just trying to make up for what he said all those years ago

 

I agree: i consider them interesting sidemarks, but no more than that.


This was actually one of the rare time that Holmes sounded classy and relaxed. Maybe he was trying to compensate for the jockstrap remark, but then again, i don't think he's ever done that in the past and his ego is too big for that. He may be genuine.

And i DO think Marciano would've been hell for Holmes, but Holmes would also have been hell for Rocky.

 

Yes and no.

Excuse me for not blindly following and hanging off their every word like a minion.

When Holmes said peak Tyson wouldn't handle the likes of Shavers and Cooney you did of course believe him right? He'd know more than silly old us, wouldn't he?

Did you believe him when he said Marciano couldn't carry his jockstrap? Or do you believe his latest comment? Possibly you just believe both, because he said it?

The bottom line is Holmes talks a lot of **** at various times, and if you choose to believe it, however ludicrous, well power to you.

Intelligent followers with no bias and massive exposure among others.

I'll take Ed Schuyler back in the day no problem at all.

When Holmes talks Marciano i run. Far.

I pick and choose what opinions and comments i take on board according to perceived credability and what i have read and watched elsewhere.

Are you a huge Marciano fan by any chance? Is that what this is about?

Where did i myself mention his weight?

As said, i read and take in as much as i can but i also choose what to throw out.

Boxers say many things, and sometimes we have to think outside narrow confines and weed things out via many combined sources for ourselves.

If Holmes say, hated fighter X's guts he's hardly the type of person that's going to give them any sort of credit.

 

Agreed on all levels. It's very very hard to know if he's sincere or not. Marciano would be tough but there's many great fighters in that bracket. Personally i feel confident Holmes would outpoint the Rock and think i could name a couple of others he'd have a harder time to beat. It would be a potentially gruelling win regasrdless, but then so would Joe Frazier.

 

Sorry to rain on the parade Suzie, i know how very very badly you want to believe all this.