Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes - 1967, 1971 and 1974

Styles maketh the fight,indeed.

 

Yeah the only reason I’d favor Ali of the sixties was because of his superior footwork and output at that time. He’d need as much of a speed and mobility factor over Holmes as he could get. By about 1972 and onward his speed, mobility and output had diminished to where a prime Holmes might have beaten him

 

This is very well done, except in FOTC Ali certainly still had a lot better than average reflexes.
They just were not what they once were, like with his endurance & foot speed, but still very good-excellent.

 

I'll take Holmes in 71 74

 

But had Muhammad Ali's reflexes and endurance had been 1967 form . Ali would have defeated champion Joe Frazier, remember Yank Durham in 1967 did not want Joe to fight that version of champion Ali. I saw and read an article from Sports Illustrated in which Durham had said that his charge was too green for Professor Clay (Ali). Yank wanted Joe to wait until Ali was imprisoned for defying the military draft, Ali only had 18 rounds of actual combat in March 1971 in 43 months, Ali did not look like 1967 Ali, I remember that version, having watched his title defenses on live television. In July 1967, in a newspaper article that I have, Ali made fun of Frazier because his manager was very hesitant to let Joe fight him.

 

Nice analysis Richard. The 1974 version of Muhammad Ali is extremely motivated to correct and rectify his losses in his rematches against Ken Norton and Joe Frazier. Gene Kilroy said that was the hardest Ali ever trained after his comeback and it shows. Although Ali was in good condition for George Foreman later that year he however was still skylarking around with mistresses and distracted more than he was for the Norton and Frazier rematches. However he was motivated to win back his heavyweight title and it showed he did enough work to win it. Overall the 1974 version of Ali post exile is his best so I don't see Larry Holmes beating him there. The only other time Ali really focused and trained as hard was in 1978 between February to September for his rematch with Leon Spinks.

 

Good post.

 

Thanks Buddy.

 

Yes. Even up until 1974 inclusive he'd have been a handful for any champion in history.

 

Agreed. This is one of the most accurate imo on how it would happen between the two best to ever do it

 

I picked wins in 71 only. Ali was rusty from the layoff & only had 2 comeback fights prior. Holmes will outbox this version of Ali. 67 Ali would be too quick, sharp & good for Holmes to handle. He can't outbox Ali on the outside, so he'll have to slug - which means coming forward. Holmes wasn't a pressure fighter like Frazier, so he won't be nearly as effective. He'll get picked a part coming forward.

In 74, while Ali was not as quick as his 67 form, he was a lot stronger and adopted a lot of wily veteran tactics. He has a hard time, but uses his superior strength & experience to overwhelm Holmes and beat him in a tough fight.

 

Holmes would always give Ali some trouble with his jab. But ,I like Ali in all 3

 

Which Holmes? Absolute prime Holmes? The variables aren't clearly defined.

If we're talking Holmes at his best, I think Ali pulverizes him in 1967, beats him soundly in 1971, beats him in a war in 1974.

After 10/30/74 this matchup IMO gets problematic for The Greatest ...

 

Holmes prime I’m gonna set at Ali fight. At that point he was one of the best ever. Put that version in the Tyson fight and he may not have won but would have been a different fight. I think that version of Holmes would have been a tough out for anyone. 67 Ali might beat him but would have been his toughest fight. He would have had to fight him like he did Liston as Holmes didn’t quite hit as hard as Liston but he was much taller faster hands and feet and a better boxer. When Ali stopped dancing to get weight behind his punches he’d have to be careful Holmes could really box and hit harder then him.

One thing post layoff Ali had over younger version was weight strength and experience. One of the best versions was for the Ellis fight. After Frazier the rust was finally gone and he had physically recovered from the beating. As I remember he was up on his toes much of the fight and looked most like the 60s Ali but was also heavier and stronger.