Larry Holmes STILL gets no r-e-s-p-e-c-t...

This was published last year over in the U.K. by Boxing News, in the form of a 150+ page magazine-style guide listing their top 100 greatest Heavyweights as well as quite a few features on the more interesting fighters in it. It was also available to buy in digital form on their website.

I was lucky enough to grab a copy when I was over there and it’s very good and informative but obviously not everyone will agree with the order of their listings.

 

Taking a dive is not what I suggested that Holmes do.

 

I agree, he is among the greatest fighters in boxing history. At one point he looked invincible. Always wondered what would have happened had he landed that uppercut on Tyson at the end of the fight instead of getting his arm caught on the ropes.

 

Well, insulting Marciano wasn't a very good idea. Especially when Marciano never resorted to insults. But I can understand his frustration and being frustrated makes one say things like that sometimes. It was also frustrating to see Ali trying to get the crowd to cheer against him and using foul language prior to the fight instructions by the ref. Not easy to feel benign towards someone who is doing that to you in public. Ali knew how sensitive to that kind of thing Holme's was. So if Holme's didn't feel too ecumenical towards Ali, Ali had something to do with it. That's undeniable.

Also, if indeed Ali felt ill, then he didn't belong in that ring. I agree with that and with the fact that it was Ali's responsibility to avoid getting himself into a hopeless situation of that kind.

 

I think even Holmes himself will admit the respect for his career has gown since he has retired.

He'll never be loved as Ali was by the media, as popular as Dempsey or Marciano with boxing fans, or as feared as Liston or Foreman, but he could beat anyone of them.

 

Holmes was not a perfect fighter but he ranks top five ATG in any credible listing. Few in his prime would be able to counter that jab of his.

 

Being such a big fan, I agree with practically all this...except, though I believe Larry would have given Ali and Louis a terrific fight, I think he would have been decisioned by both.

Whenever I think of Lennox against Larry I think about Cooney, especially the pre-Steward Lewis, because both of those challengers basically had one hand and not iron chins. Larry would have started landing the overhand right pretty early on Lennox, thus a stoppage in 10.

 

I think Holmes decisions Louis, and beats Ali, unless it's Ali at his very best.

 

I see the Ali who beat Cleveland Williams annoying the hell out of

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Larry with the movement and jab. But Ali probably wouldn't have hurt Larry too much overall, unless it was a Snipes-style lucky shot (actually, now that I think about it it was a sneaky right that felled George). I agree that fight would probably be a decision, and I doubt there'd be a knockdown. That era of Ali would have taken it though I think.

If we're talking from FOTC on Ali, yeah I see Larry beating him. Though George had a champion's heart, he didn't have the one Larry possessed (very elite in that regard). If Ali caught him with the right that floored George, Larry would go down but get back up and start dominating again shortly there after.

 

As far as Joe Louis...see, that's the thing. Witherspoon and Snipes weren't typically renowned for their finishing skills (Shavers most often was, though not on the level of finality as Louis or, say, Tyson). Louis had a great right hand, which was Larry's Achilles' heel, and Louis could be as single-minded and disturbing a finisher as Foreman.

I just don't see Larry coming off the floor to beat Louis. Not for lack of heart...absolutely not. I think it would be a case of multiple knockdowns (not entirely unlike the Tyson fight, except Joe would have plenty of lumps and bruises from the jab before the knockdowns start). I also think Larry would do his usual and fight back his hardest, but the right would find its way again and again...that's the way Joe was.

Keep in mind, I love Larry way more than Louis....it's just that I've watched a lot of Louis, and the man was almost like a force of nature in execution. He was sooooo good. Only 60s Ali was better, and it could be argued early 70s and 80s Ali and Holmes (respectively) were nearly as good. Nobody else.

 

Been watching Holmes a lot recently, and it seems to me he had enough of everything you ask for in a champion. Very fast hands, pretty good power, great powers of recovery and great heart. He could think on his feet, too. Definitely up there with the best for me.

Not many would have an easy night with a prime Holmes. In fact, I doubt many start favourite over him.

 

That's a great post, and a very very fair one from someone that unabashedly admits to loving Holmes. Great work mate.