Prime: Muhammad Ali .Vs. Larry Holmes

I've always expressed the opinion that Holmes could have pulled off the decision with Futch in his corner. Folley had some success in the first three rounds, getting Ali off his toes by standing his ground, and scoring with right hand leads and singular body shots, making it more of a chess match. Holmes was much stronger and more durable than Folley, and closer to Ali's height and reach. Although it wasn't characteristic for Larry to use his jab in this way, I believe he could have executed Eddie's strategy to deploy it for throwing Muhammad off his rhythm. Make no mistake about it though, Holmes would need a near flawless performance to carry away the win.

 

No way Holmes wins. No way!

 

To be more specific,
Ali takes the decision, maybe even wins by late stoppage.

 

If Giachetti was in his corner, I'd agree, but Futch understood Ali, and I think it should be factored in that Holmes hired Eddie after he became champion, and highly valued his counsel. (That's why he was so upset when Futch did the traditional thing, and sat out Larry's final defense against fellow student Mike Spinks. In contrast, Ali actually gave his blessing for Dundee to work the opposite corner with Ellis, and Angelo dearly wanted to win that one. But Futch understood Muhammad better than Dundee himself.)

There's no way this ends in a stoppage. A peak Muhammad was unable to do this with a one eyed Terrell, and they were both boxing stylists above all else. No stoppage, and no knockdowns. This one's going the limit.

 

Holmes was the only sparring partner that beat Ali.

If Holmes gets to keep that experience in "being in his prime",
then he would win by close decision.

 

Lost in the one sided bout between Ali and Holmes was that Larry never punched when Ali moved, as slow as that was by Ali. In every round that Ali managed to move Larry methodically followed and did nothing until Ali stopped, then Larry would set up and let his punches go. Having viewed this a number of times this was the case without exception, there is simply no way a younger and much faster moving Ali who punched as he moved would not have taken advantage of this from Larry, and won many rounds because of it, I think clearly enough for the win.

 

Longhorn, actually Ali had a number of sparring partners who beat and beat on him, including Jimmy Ellis who dropped Ali twice during sparring sessions. What Ali did in the gym ring and what he could do in bouts were two entirely different things.

 

Muhammad Ali vs Larry Holmes...both in their primes. I would bet very heavily on Muhammad Ali, without a second's hesitation! And...I would make a bundle on this fight!

 

Again, this was with Giachetti in the Holmes corner, not Futch. With Eddie's training and instructions, a match between these two would have always unfolded very differently.

 

I still say Ali. By about 9 - 6 in rounds. Muhammad too fast and slick.

 

How relevant do people feel Ali-Norton is to this discussion?

 

As relevant as Holmes-Norton.

 

With two fighters of that calibre and skill you can't say for sure who would win. Ali in his prime (aged 24) was a stunning fighting machine as was Holmes (aged 30).

This fight goes either way with the slightest of edges to The Greatest. No knockdowns, no knockouts and neither hurt.

 

Ken's style just faired well against boxers. Ali was not in his prime in any Norton fight - remember that!

Holmes became a better fighter post Norton.