Why didn’t Holmes ever unify?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Devon, Jul 27, 2024.


  1. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    A fight against prime Michael Dokes would’ve been a brilliant, intriguing fight, the technical ability of Holmes against the lightning speed of Dokes, I think Dokes could’ve gave him some issues, also after Coetzee beat Dokes, there was another opportunity, don’t think Coetzee gives him many issues though.
    Why did he never unify.
     
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  2. Skins

    Skins Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I have wondered the same thing myself. He was never undisputed champion and I think that hurts his legacy a bit. But he went where the money was and I can't blame him for that
     
  3. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Larry was a professional prize fighter and prioritized what made his profession more lucrative to his bank account. I don’t think he cared about his historical legacy to the extent that fans do.
     
  4. Skins

    Skins Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I don't think he did either and there is nothing wrong with that. You should be maxing out your earnings in the limited time you have to do it in that business. What other people think of you doesn't pay the bills. And he has done well for himself. I would think that he is probably one of the wealthier ex-champions around
     
  5. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    It definitely hurts his legacy. I’m absolutely baffled the majority here have him at number 3 when he never unified and avoided his top contenders BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, in the second half of his reign.
     
  6. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He got out with his wits, from all appearances, and his bank account intact. That sadly is uncommon in this sport.
     
  7. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    That’s an absolutely fair take. I have him No. 3 simply because that’s my personal subjective assessment of his skills. Along those lines, we’ll of course never know how Holmes-Dokes would have turned out but my .02 is I wouldn’t have been betting on someone who struggled with Tex Cobb and Ossie Ocasio in that matchup.
     
  8. bolo specialist

    bolo specialist Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He was scheduled for a unification fight w/ Coetzee in Las Vegas, but the fight fell apart for the reasons outlined here.
     
  9. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Holmes was champ when I first really got into boxing.

    I didn't know anyone in my boxing circle who thought he should unify it. We all thought of him as the Only Champ. It was only Witherspoon and after that things got shaky.

    I also didn't know many fans whom picked Coetzee, Dokes, or Page over Holmes during that time. We all were more impressed with Thomas (and wished Holmes had given Tim a rematch).
     
  10. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo Loyal Member Full Member

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    Money, politics, reluctance.
     
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  11. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It doesn't hurt his legacy at all. Unifying wasn't a big deal back then.

    Larry's peers and fellow champions back then like Alexis Arguello never unified anything. Salvador Sanchez never unified anything. Danny Lopez never unified. Matthew Saad Muhammad never unified. Antonio Cervantes never unified. Aaron Pryor never unified. Wilfred Benitez never unified. Wilfredo Gomez never unified. Azumah Nelson never unified. Carlos Palomino didn't. Pipino Cuevas didn't. Eusebio Pedroza didn't.

    Larry Holmes faced a dozen heavyweight champions. He beat nearly all of them.

    He's one of the most successful heavyweight champions in history. A hall of famer. Considered among the best heavyweight champs who ever lived.

    How does it hurt him? If he unified against Dokes or Coetzee, do you rate him #1 all time?

    My guess is no. He's still right where he is.

    Fans today put too much emphasis on collecting belts. Fans back then didn't.
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2024
  12. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Exactly.

    For a few months, there was a debate on who was better - Holmes or Tate. But once Weaver won the WBA belt, and Holmes had already stopped him in a title fight, anyone who went after the WBA belt just seemed to be trying to pick up an easier strap.

    Larry was the champ.
     
  13. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Agree with most of this. Only point I’ll contest is he beat a bunch of belt strap holders (most of whom weren’t Champion in the traditional or any meaningful context), & such men didn’t exist prior to Holmes’ time for other Champs to pad their record on.

    Holmes beat two, perhaps you can argue three, genuine Champions in his career. Norton, Ali, & Spinks.
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2024
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  14. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo Loyal Member Full Member

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    The unification part wasn’t so much of a problem for me as it was the fact that he simply could have faced “ better opponents. “ it just so happens that some of those “ better “ opponents happened to be holding titles at the time but it wasn’t about collecting belts for me. It’s also commonly overlooked or swept under the rug that he was stripped of the one belt he had for not fighting a mandatory. Never mind acquiring other plastic trinkets but at least hold on to the one you’ve got
     
  15. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Great post.