What was Larry Holmes best prime performance?

Early prime---Shavers of '78......... Tail end prime--- Cooney of '82....:deal

SR.BILL

 

Young lost to him twice Bummy, the second time he was in good condition, out to prove the first fight was a fluke and he lost again, and this was right after he fought Norton for the title. He was prime.

Yes Bey had 14 fights BUT he did just beat Page, the same Page everyone here cries that Larry ducked, he was young, strong and motivated. Holmes broke his spirit.

Cobb lost a fast paced razor thin decision to Norton and a close decision, 6-4, to a prime Dokes. No one destroyed Cobb up to that point like Holmes did.

Say what you want about Evangelista later on but when Larry fought him he just came off a tough 15 round loss to an aging Ali and had a decent show of himself. Against Larry he did not win one second of their bout.

Again I ask, pick your fighter and I can easily play the same game. Easy to play half empty game.

 

None of those fighters would be able to compete today and I will name a few fighters not even the best that would walk through them..Peter would KO all of them quickly...Chambers would pitch a shutout over Cobb, Stop Evangelista...Bey would get crushed by Chagaev, Austin or Thompson and Ibragimov would stop them all, especially Jones.....these 10-13-14 fight novice fighters were hand picked....and to say that Young was in shape for the 2nd Ocasio fight look at photos he came back into the ring with man-boobs

 

Hand picked? Who then, was avoided?

 

First of all Young always had man boobs. Second of all Sam Peter could not touch Jimmy Young if his life depended on it.

Since Wlad is the top dog today and was crushed by Sanders, Brewster and Purrity is he your standout example. Safety first, jab and hold Wlad ? PLease don't get me started. Holmes would destroy him.

 

I wouldn't count on Sam Peter beating Tex Cobb, nevermind KOing him. :nono

 

Peter is vastly overrated. Since 2007 more and more *****s have appeared in his armor. I'd lean towards Cobb over any variant of Peter.

 

For prime Holmes I'd say the first Shavers fight. He looked fantastic. Always moving, pasting Earnie with his jab and never letting Shavers get set. Beautiful boxing exhibition. That version of Holmes could've beaten any champion past or present including Ali.

 

Excellent thread this.

 

Maybe if he bothered to fight the best of his era he'd have more of a following

 

The Cobb fight is perfect if you ever wanted to explain the entire Holmes style. Larry just battered the guy from pillar to post while Cobb keeps pressing forward.

The Norton fight is a top notch battle with both fighters giving excellent accounts of each other.

The Shavers II fight was an excellent show of heart. With the Snipes fight getting a honorable mention (same round, totally different caliber of fighter...much greener).

I love watching the Ocasio fight simply because of Larry landing that sharp jab to drop the poor cruiser.

The Mercer fight is the best Old Larry fight hands down. He embarrassed the hell out of that guy.

I think I'll take the Shavers II fight as my pick for best prime performance. Larry was winning rounds, showed excellent heart, and he stopped the fight before the full distance in true Holmes style.

 

Cooney. Spinks honorable mention.

 

Another vote for Shavers 1. He turned the guy every minute of the fight and was at a lower weight. When he got a little heavier, he got hit more.

Not many were picking Earnie in the rematch & he was way up there in the age department & there was a huge gap in age and reflexes by that 79 fight.

The rest of those early challengers were pretty dreary and were hardly live bodies and had not shown good form in their previous bouts coming into those Holmes defenses.

 

Agreed.

Some people aren't old enough to have lived thru those times and know opponents by name and reputation, not their form at the time. Those guys Larry fought did not show good form going into those title bouts.

 

Cooney and Cobb, probably Shavers I.