There has been much discussion as to who would win both in their prime,but I will take a new slant on it. At age 32 both were slightly past their best but still capable of beating anyone else,and scoring legacy wins. Ali dismantling George Foreman and Holmes schooling Gerry Cooney. This one would get off to a slow start with left jabs being prominent. Ali's slightly faster and Holmes' a bit harder. A chess match would ensue with each man trying to force the other into making errors and capitalising on it. The later rounds would bring out the warrior in both fighters and the fireworks would finally start to explode. I'm doubtful whether there would be any knockdowns and at the end Ali's hand would be raised after an extremely close one. Maybe a split decision.
Well, personally I think the Foreman fight was harder for Ali. I.e he was a bigger challenge than Cooney. Prime for Prime I say Holmes. I will have to re-watch Holmes-Cooney all the way through and get back to you on this proposed matchup :good
Muhammad Ali 1974 v Larry Holmes 1982 :think Could go either way, I think Ali edges the championship rds to maybe take a split. I think peak v peak, Ali takes a UD.
I've always felt Holmes would stand an excellent chance with any version of Ali. In this scenario, I'd pick Holmes.
Good posts. I pick Holmes by decision. Simply put, I think Holmes was a better fighter in 1982 than Ali was in 1974. It's a great match-up in a prime for prime sense as well.
I concur with the majority who pick Larry Holmes via decision over a 1974 Ali. Muhammad in 1967 is a different story though.
Holmes UD. The Ali legend may enable Ali to get the decision anyway, though Holmes was better than Ali in nearly everything by 1974. Ali wouldn't be able to negate the jab enough to win.
Holmes win. This Ali is far more gone than Holmes. Ali had more ring smarts and could adapt and face adversity very well, as could Holmes. I think out of 10 times Holmes would win at least 5, probably 6. It's close, but I have to say Holmes cause he's closer to his best form.
For my semi-final of this bout I would have the 1974 Foreman v 1982 Cooney. This would be a younger,faster version of their 1990 fight. Similar outcome. Foreman by early round ko.
I think Holmes has a stylistic advantage over Ali for the simple fact that I think he has a better jab. Maybe not as fast, but more effective. As I always stress, IN MY OPINION