Larry Holmes vs George Foreman

Also how George was stepping to his right to stop Norton from getting out of the corner.

 

Also note the only time Norton spent in the center of the ring was during the referee's instructions. Against Holmes and others he controlled the center and was the one moving forward, making others skirt the sides of the ring the vast majority of the time.

 

Slow one aren't you? It was purely sarcastic (What Larry may have said had he lost to Foreman.)

But since you're wondering I think that in his prime, Larry would have beaten both Tyson and Foreman.

 

I think Holmes would have been a nightmare for Foreman, and he knew it too. Too much footwork, hand speed, punch volume, defense, condition, and versatility. Larry could stick and move, but he also could attack or just stand there and counter. And Larry was really tough, mentally and physically. Sure Foreman would have nailed him a few good ones, but Larry could take it, and would have overcome any bad moments. Holmes was too much overall and would have outboxed him, possibly stopped him late, but definitely would at least have decisioned him. The biggest factor would have been the difference in speed.

 

I like a Holmes decision here

 

I see prime George Foreman, 1973 beating a prime Larry Holmes by a stoppage. George would from the beginning of the bout, keep Larry in the corner and against the ropes, as he did to Ken Norton in 1974. Larry would attempt to move and use his left jab. Foreman would be instructed to cut off the ring right away, not enabling Larry to use an exit strategy. With no other choice in sight, Holmes would be forced to trade with Foreman, where Larry would be constantly tagged by a thunderous right by George. The end for Larry comes in round 5 as Larry is decked twice and is severely pummeled by George. A towel is tossed into the ring by trainer Richie Giachetti. Foreman's corner of D. Sadler and Archie Moore celebrate.

 

Prime for Prime, both at their best, I have Foreman stopping Holmes inside of 6. People equating Shavers to Foreman are way off here. They aren't even close to the same fighter nor the same pedigree. They aren't even peers, Shavers wishes he was as good Foreman.

 

You're right, though it's arguable Shavers had the more powerful right hand. George was a top 10 ATG...Earnie wasn't anywhere near there.

 

I love both of them but I believe Larry wins due to his conditioning and ring IQ. Let's be honest here, George didn't have the best boxing IQ or conditioning when he was prime.

 

One of the things about Foreman-Holmes is how, prime for prime, the former really wasn't that much bigger than Larry (and each were the same height). Foreman would have had even more trouble bullying Larry around the ring than he did Ali (though to be completely fair, Ali psyched the hell out of George on top of that). Larry would be able to spin George's head and body like he did other punchers, and along with the jab keep him from getting set.

I admit, George landing a flush right hand is gonna happen in the fight, and Holmes would certainly go down. Plus, George was a much better finisher than Shavers. However, I saw prime Holmes get knocked down three times (and Weaver WAS a good finisher), knocked silly more often than that...and get back in control within a round almost every time. He had a ton of heart...I don't think George grew one of those until the Lyle fight.

No offense to fans of George, he's my third favorite fighter after Larry and Ali.

 

First 5 rounds-Foreman. After 5 rounds-Holmes.

 

Foreman would finish what shavers or snipes could not finish.

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You can argue in favour of Holmes the skill and he recovered well himself but using the size argument is bit a joke mate. Larry Holmes was a narrow skinny guy weighed even 196 pounds in his early career and Foreman weighed 226-230 in the amateurs, forget the height, Holmes is weak like **** compared with george

 

Holmes

 

You could well be right on the outcome. The question for me is whether Foreman's ferocity would be negated by the boxer's stylistic advantage-I have tended to say no, but that may not be the case.

But I do not know why Foreman would have less success than Ali bullying him around.
Holmes prime weight was less than Ali, he had less muscle.
Holmes would not be as effective with illegal holding & pulling down the neck, & neither would do much inside. Ali could grapple as well as about anyone though.

Zaire was a slow small ring, but Ali was surprised by how fast Foreman was & well how he could cut off the ring.
Even with the right hand leads that Holmes would at best approach in competence if he tried them.

I do object that Foreman did not have heart before Lyle.
It is tough to exhibit it when youy are so dominant. But he had plenty of heart against Ali, just not controlled enough, & mucho strategic stupidity too!

I do not believe Holmes would try or dare provoke Foreman like Ali did.
I do not know if Holmes could survive a sustained Foreman blitzkrieg-which is very different from being decked from single shots by the likes of Weaver, Snipen' Snipes, or Shavers.