Was Larry Holmes the "worst" heavyweight champion of all time?

Maybe but if Ali had said it everyone would have laughed and it would have been a non story.

 

Larry Holmes at his peak is absolutely a top-10 all time HW. One of the best left jabs in HW boxing history--just an all-around excellent technical fighter--(a bigger, stronger Ezzard Charles if I had to compare him with anyone.) And he had a great chin--(That knockdown by Earnie Shavers in their second bout would have finished off 99.9999% of fighters but Holmes showed tremendous grit coming back from that shot!) Holmes was a great champion who's never quite gotten the recognition he deserves--even to this day.

 

Agreed. However, Larry's no-nonsense verbals were an open-book and his comments were laced with discernible vitriol. I don't have a view on it, myself. He said what he said and made his state of upset clear.

Ali would likely have come across as just being plain cheeky, with such comments not even having made a dent in his image.

And, yes, the people would have laughed it off.

 

one of the best heavyweights ever. A shame he could not have fought during Ali, Norton, Foreman and Frazier. I think he would have fared better than many think

 

I will go through the fights a little how I see it. Against Ali, Larry and Ali in 1971 with a 1980 Larry? I give Larry a chance to draw or make it a close decision if he uses his jab and tries to put in that right hand... Probably Ali, but Larry had a great jab. Frazier? A bit of a problem for Larry, but with that jab I could see him weathering the storm being knocked down early and coming on and swelling Joe and stopping him by TKO. Foreman? pick em fight. Again weathering the storm and using his jab, but Foreman might be too strong yet George to me was a bit limited compared to Larry's skill and jab,, George had a great jab, but not a Holmes jab. On this one I have a hard time picking. With Norton I think he always wins by late decision..

 

Lol

 

Seriously, who are the four twonks who voted ‘yes’?

 

He did fight Norton. Was a great close fight.

He worked for both Ali and Frazier at different times. Holmes's opinion is that he would have held his own against post-exile Ali, but been beaten by Frazier. Whatever happened with Frazier during sparring clearly made an impression on Holmes, because Frazier is the ONLY fighter he's ever openly and repeatedly said would beat him. I know Frazier liked to spar full out, and I gather he repeatedly hurt Holmes and stopped him a time or two.

 

Frazier is one of the handful of heavies I'd pick to beat Larry in his prime, but though Joe always had a really good, underrated right hand, he didn't quite have one made of Larry's kryptonite. I see the Frazier from Ellis right into the FOTC model winning a UD a bit closer than the one against Ali. Larry would probably smack the crap out of him in the early rounds, but after that Joe starts getting under his overhand right and double hooking to the body and head.

I don't see Larry going down, but do envision him having major problems from round 7 on. He'll make good use of the uppercut, but it won't be enough.

 

Joe Frazier broke Larry Holmes's ribs in sparring i believe Holmes confirmed this himself, Frazier excelled vs boxers and i think style wise he does well against Holmes. I can see Holmes doing well early on but Frazier's relentless aggression and body punches, would eventually wear down Holmes in the 2nd half of the fight. And i think overall Frazier possibly could get a late stoppage or win a competitive decision.

 

Joe cracked Larry's ribs before their 2nd fight I believe. I think Holmes sees the style of Joe being rough for him. Frazier won't try to box with him, he would make Larry fight for 3 minutes each round, more so fighting Joe off much of the time.
Like being in with a little pitbull.

 

No, but he didn't help his case by not fighting Greg Page and Pinklon Thomas, but fighting Marvis Frazier and Scott Frank. That was some serious BS going on there.

 

I know... I meant a younger Norton when Norton fought Ali... I should have specified. He fought a good Norton, but to me a little late. A great fight.