Pretty much a toss up to me, but I see a heavy handed Foreman doing to Holmes what Shavers couldn't finish. He had the better stamina than Shavers and a much better chin, basically the two things Shavers needed to beat Holmes...but that's just me.

Anybody?

Agreed Young Holmes.

The young George Foreman was a beast who usually had his way with any opponent. With his awesome punching power and freakish strenght, I definitely see him giving a prime Larry Holmes one helluva fight, at least early on.

The problem for the younger Foreman was that he did not pace himself at all, and just went on a rampage, destroying his foe in a couple of rounds. If the fight wore on, he was no longer as dangerous. He also proved to have som difficulty with slick boxers as we saw against Young (granted, this was not the best version of Foreman).

Against a prime Larry Holmes, Foreman would be faced with one of the best heavyweight boxers the ring has ever known. An incredible left jab, a good reach, excellent defense, fast and accurate hands, fantastic counter-punching, great mobility and decent punching power. Add Holmes' superb stamina, his unquestionable heart and rock-solid chin, and you have one of the greatest heavyweights to ever lace on a pair of gloves.

I believe that a prime Larry Holmes would be able to outlast Foremans barnstorming, to come back and win this via decision. His chin would be put to the test, but I don't see Foreman stopping Holmes. He was difficult to hit cleanly and he was also strong enough to keep Foreman off him, at least to some degree (Foreman was definitely the strongest of the two though). His countering, marvelous left jab and quick movements would make him a difficult target for the great but crude young Foreman.

Larry Holmes by UD.

The young George Foreman was a beast who usually had his way with any opponent. With his awesome punching power and freakish strenght, I definitely see him giving a prime Larry Holmes one helluva fight, at least early on.

The problem for the younger Foreman was that he did not pace himself at all, and just went on a rampage, destroying his foe in a couple of rounds. If the fight wore on, he was no longer as dangerous. He also proved to have som difficulty with slick boxers as we saw against Young (granted, this was not the best version of Foreman).

Against a prime Larry Holmes, Foreman would be faced with one of the best heavyweight boxers the ring has ever known. An incredible left jab, a good reach, excellent defense, fast and accurate hands, fantastic counter-punching, great mobility and decent punching power. Add Holmes' superb stamina, his unquestionable heart and rock-solid chin, and you have one of the greatest heavyweights to ever lace on a pair of gloves.

I believe that a prime Larry Holmes would be able to outlast Foremans barnstorming, to come back and win this via decision. His chin would be put to the test, but I don't see Foreman stopping Holmes. He was difficult to hit cleanly and he was also strong enough to keep Foreman off him, at least to some degree (Foreman was definitely the strongest of the two though). His countering, marvelous left jab and quick movements would make him a difficult target for the great but crude young Foreman.

Larry Holmes by UD.

Agreed!

Poet

Holmes could probably weather the storm and pull off a UD, but a young Foreman pulled off some pretty crazy stuff back in the day so you never know.

A 27 or 28 year old prime Holmes couldn't keep a washed up Ken Norton of of him not to mention Norton was able to hurt Holmes. Renaldo Snipes was able to knock Holmes down and almost out. The glass chin Earnie Shavers gave Holmes a hell of a time. Add all of this up and the logical answer would be Holmes wouldn't make it past 5 rounds against a prime Foreman.

A 27 or 28 year old prime Holmes couldn't keep a washed up Ken Norton of of him not to mention Norton was able to hurt Holmes. Renaldo Snipes was able to knock Holmes down and almost out. The glass chin Earnie Shavers gave Holmes a hell of a time. Add all of this up and the logical answer would be Holmes wouldn't make it past 5 rounds against a prime Foreman.

That's a good point, but Foreman was clumsy and could be eating enough hard jabs to keep him off till he tired.

just speculation..