Larry Holmes vs. Max Baer

A contrast of Coetzee and Baer.

Similar size, same weapon.

But the older fighter was more effective because of his conditioning and less orthodox approach. Baer didn't care if he looked pretty, as long as he got results.

And who was really more reckless, the one who no matter how clumsy was out of harm way or the one with supposed balance that got countered to death?

 

What linear champions did he stop? Which champs did he take out in a round?

 

It all depends on the night they fought, Holmes should be able to outbox an unprepared Baer but on a good night when Max was ready and able it would not be far fetched to him KO Holmes with that tremendous right hand he had. Snipes almost did and Shavers came close, Baer packed power

 

None. Same as Tua.

Moorer was 8 long years removed from one of the most embarrassing linear title losses in history, 5 years removed from a serious rating, and 2 years removed from a 3 year retirement.

He beat Rahman via an illegal punch a year before he KOed by Oleg, and two years before he upset Lewis, and immediately returned to average middling contender level...though still good enough to out box Tua and be ripped off again.

Nevermind, Rahman and Moorer are regarded to have benefited from poor nights, and usually mentioned as the worst to become linear.

Tua beat no champs in the alphabet era.

How many leading contenders actively rated in the top 5 did Tua knock out? None.

Galento knocked out #1 Nova and #3 Mann. I think Galento and Tua could match wins, though I think Nova had a good shot at beating Tua.

 

Okay, Moorer and Rahman don't count as linear champs. These guys merely beat Holyfield and Lewis. No biggie. Doesn't count. We need to stick to real linear champs like Primo Carnera.

But Moorer lost because he got punched in the face. He would knock Jirov out after that. Let's imagine Galento performing like Tua against Ike. That's some comical ****.

 

If you want to take the linear champ path. Tua and Galento only faced one linear champ apiece. Louis and Lewis. They lost to both.

In contrast to these two performances, I give the edge to Galento. Galento timed one of the fastest and more accurate jabs in history, and put the Champ in some scary places before going out on his shield. It was an acclaimed performance where as Tua gave a pitiful disappointing safety first performance.

Now if you want to make an argument that Moorer and Rahman are evidence of a superior left hook on Tua's part, you are going to have build a better case than....Moorer edged an injured Holyfield 8 years ago and while obese knocked out an exhausted Jirov who was kicking his ass.

Tua catching Rahman after the bell, who in the course of an erratic career that saw him knocked out by Oleg far easier upset Lewis a few years later. How does this prove Tua had a better hook?

I don't see these men as being stronger opponents than Nova and Mann when Galento beat them...especially not just because they were lineal champs at some point in their career. Briggs was a lineal champ, I don't rate Vitali's win over him that high.

Galento looked fantastic against Louis and the Nova win trumps losing to Ike. What did Tua do so impressive against Ike, give away the first half of the fight?

 

I actually pointed out a few other things in my post to justify ranking Norton higher. But fair enough. We'll agree to disagree on that one.

These were the ratings, per ring magazine.. I don't always like to reference them because they don't reflect individual months, but they are listed on an annual basis as you well know..

TIM WITHERSPOON:

1982 - #10
1983 - # 5
1984 - #4
1985 - #3
1986 - #4
1987 - #4
1988 - #4
1989 - #5
1990 - #5
1991 - #7
1996 - #10

Above reflects a grand total of 11 years spent in the top 10 and 8 consecutive years of being top 5 or better.

Maybe and maybe not. His career was basically over with by age 31 while Witherspoon resurfaced in the top 10 at age 39 and in the midst of one of the toughest eras ever.

Witherspoon fought everyone placed in front of him and more often than not beat them.. He pushed for fights with the very best and competed with most of the best of an era.

Which I think is comparably good to baer's despite lack of a lineal title claim.

 

Tony Galento slipping Louis' jab and setting up the left hook out of the crouch:

[url]http://makeagif.com/NamrIe[/url]

Galento with a quick compact counter hook to hurt Louis

[url]http://makeagif.com/w3x2T0[/url]

Galento using a hard feint to sucker Louis into a left hook

[url]http://makeagif.com/Y-44LG[/url]

 

Look at this idiot comparing the pork galento with tua lol. Tua had x3 better chin

 

Galento resembles an obese flying squirrel when throwing a hook.

 

Identical technique

[url]http://makeagif.com/Y-44LG[/url]


[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj5e7NPWnrY[/url]

 

Hell no. You either don't know boxing or have macular edema if you think that's the same.