Rank Larry Holmes Top 5 oponents

Man I really hate what I think is the answer to that one: no. Ken just seemed doomed against monster punchers, even though he had such a champion's heart. I'm not sure he'd last two rounds.

To be completely honest, I wish I could say yes, because I happen to love Kenny more as a fighter than Mike. But Mike was just too powerful and fast. Ken might have landed a couple of killer body shots (perhaps a nice uppercut or two) but...

Unconscious Ken in round 2. Wow, this really does pain me to write.

 

I think Kenny would have done better against post-prison Mike, perhaps made it several extra rounds longer (might have even knocked down Mike). But again, I just can't see him taking flush shots for long against Mike.

Ken really didn't do great backing up, and Mike would be all over him, regardless whether it was the 80s or 90s.

Here's an interesting idea to me: Ali-beating Ken vs. Holmes-beating Holy.

 

I mean prime Ken (beating Ali that first time) against prime Holy. I don't think it would be as easy a win for Holy as some might think.

In fact, I'd be surprised as heck if there wasn't a thread about that here yet...

 

I'm still not convinced Holy ever beat Bowe, however he did look really good in that fight.

 

Tyson
Holyfield
Michael Spinks
Witherspoon
Norton or Cooney

 

Witherspoon wasn't prime. He was a cherry pick gone wrong.

 

Just a reminder...Berbick beat Thomas (undefeated), Mitch Green (undefeated), Page (undefeated), Bey, and John Tate, and held a heavyweight title. That's a lot better than what most of the guys who Holmes fought accomplished.

 

Berbick was a bit like Weaver, Witherspoon, and Smith in that they seemed to become better fighters after they fought him (I believe all became champs, not positive on Smith).

In other words, I think all of those fighters were actually pretty darn good when they fought him. Probably, significantly better than they're given credit for.

No, they weren't Ali, Norton, Foreman, Tyson, Frazier, Lewis, Holy, or Louis...but still very good fighters quite worthy of a title shot.

 

Also McCall who beat Lewis, Seldon, Akinwande, Holmes (old), and Maskaev (green) and Damiani.

 

McCall did beat Lewis, and Lewis ended up being a very great fighter (top five ATG imo, and I'm not even a big fan of Lewis).