Ali had parkinson`s when Holmes beat him, he failed a medical before the bout, he couldn`t touch his own nose.
Holmes is vastly overrated today. We didn't hold him in high regard at the time at all. Good fighter though, no doubt. Just a notch or two below the greats of his era like ali Frazier Norton foreman etc
These videos are great. This all took place well before my time ... so I learn a lot I didn't know about.
Vastly overrated is stretching it quite a bit to be honest. His jab is rated as one of the best to ever grace the Heavyweight division for very good reason and he had a top 10 ATG beard and THAT is beyond dispute. Getting up from that nuclear missile of a right hand that Shavers landed on him was the stuff of legend long before Fury's epic reincarnation from Wilders crushing combo. The wars he had with Norton and an undefeated Mercer when way past prime hold up to any scrutiny, especially given Nortons standing at the time and the fact that Mercer gave a prime Lewis all he could handle and brutally destroyed a Morrison who at the time was being touted as the Great White Hope. For me and I'm sure most posters on here, Holmes is definately to be considered top 20 at the very least with a fair argument at a top 10 place in the ATG standings.
Hi @Rumsfeld could you please tell me whether Holmes unified? Also did he ever reclaim his WBC strap?
Norton was well past his prime and that was Holmes best performance by far. Prime Norton would've beaten Holmes.if the ages were reversed the result would be very different. Actually many thought Norton won anyway at the time.
Awesome video, appreciated the summation at end and perspective on past prime yet still formidable past champions…thank you.
