Let's talk about the Easton Assassin

He's a top 10 HW all-time, maybe top 5.

Great jab, nice uppercut, good chin and heart, quick hands and feet, respectable power. He could be suspectible to a right hand though.

Although he's one of history's great HWs, I think if he were around today in the internet era, he'd be getting a lot of criticism.

 

this will be controversial but....

Mike Tyson accomplished more, in a shorter span than Holmes.

Holmes beat:
Norton (A)
Weaver (B)
Shavers (B)
Ali (B) Ridiculously shot
Cooney (B)
Witherspoon (B)
Bonecrusher Smith (B)

1 A, 6 B's in his prime
***fought a bunch of novices and lost to Spinks, then was a solid contender, highlighted by beating Mercer.


Tyson beat:
Bercick (B)
Bonecrusher (B)
Thomas (B)
Tucker (B)
Biggs (B)
Holmes (A)
Tubbs (B)
Spinks (A)
Bruno (B)

2 As and 7 Bs in a 4 year span, and when Tyson came back, he won two titles beating the likes of Seldon, Bruno, Botha, Golota.

 

Same here. Holmes is borderline top five, imo, based on achievement. And I agree with others who think those Spinks "losses" were bogus - the boxing establishment did NOT want Holmes to break Marciano's record. Spinks made it close enough for them to do what they so desperately wanted.

 

Like Zachman said, Borderline 5th place, but 5th none the less. (Louis, Ali, Dempsey, Lewis) ahead of him but sometimes I put Foreman in his place.

Prime for Prime: Louis would loose all but the round he KOed Holmes in.
Ali would embarass Holmes
Dempsey, I actually think Holmes would/could win this UD
Lewis would KO Larry in 2 rounds

Worst performance was Tyson, Best was against Cooney (that was a great fight)

Larry should have fought Bert Cooper (early 80's version), Michael Dokes, Michael Moore.

Larry was a fine fine boxer with special given abilities to make just about any heavy weight look foolish fighting him. He was Durable (chin), decent Power, Great footwork, exceptionally quick, and GD one of the sweetest jabs the world has every witnessed.

 

Oh no Boss, I had it right the first time go round. Larry would not escape the 2nd with his head intact against Lewis. As you say Larry had the perfect fight for Ali, I say a Prime Lewis was Perfect for Larry.

 

The Black Cloud's best performance was against Kenny Norton IMO.

He sweetest win of course was Cooney

The worse of course the Butterbean fight.

As for placing in history I have as my all time #5 he was a brilliant fighter and icon of the division. He needed to of been born five years earlier if he wanted to of improved his legacy IMO.

 

I honestly thought he didn't look half-bad in the Butterbean fight...I mean, considering he was FIFTY-TWO years old, he had no problem snapping the Bean's head back at will with his jab.

He showed some decent footwork, too (except for the slip). Not much speed but it was still solid footwork - he was able to keep Butterbean from cutting off the ring, and the Bean is pretty well versed in that area.

 

LARRY was a dam good champ but I see the typical exageration of his skills are starting with the associated time since he was champ ! COONEY for the record was coming off about three minutes of action over 2 years and fighting with an injury caused by his trainer having him punch walls instead od the heavy bag ! And LARRY had a hell of a time even with this inexperienced and inactive injured fighter who proved to be quite feeble anyway ! Other then that LARRY defended against alot of novices and struggled with any that had any talent at all ! In fact he got gifts against both SPOON and WILLIAMS ! A good champ with lots of balls but nowhere as good as claimed here ! It funny he was underrated while champ and now in typicle fashion is overrated with the passing of time !:smoke How long he retained his skill was his most amazing attribute ! But that lays to rest the MYTH that he was over the hill in alot of his worst performences !

 

well i have him top 3 after ali and louis

 

VERY MUCH AGREEEEED.:smoke:smoke:smoke:smoke

 

Larry is definitely in the top 5, arguably top 3, had tremendous skills and heart, but unifying the title and fighting some of his later contemporaries, and beating them, would've cemented his legacy even more.

 

Good fighter and underrated because he was in Ali's shadow. Knows how to throw a mean dropkick.