Would Holmes have beaten a prime Ali?

Maybe, I would favor Ali though

I can't believe how split the vote is. Larry Holmes is slow as hell compared to young Ali.

I've long pondered this one. However I still lean towards Ali! If you type 'Ali Holmes round seven' into Youtube its very interesting. This is just about the only round where Ali actually has some success. He is clearly much slower than his prime but he shows cameos of how Larry would struggle with a much faster prime Ali (from 13 years before 1980!!!!!). Larry clearly did not like Ali dancing and jabbing, he'd have hated it in Ali's prime!! Great point

I've long pondered this one. However I still lean towards Ali! If you type 'Ali Holmes round seven' into Youtube its very interesting. This is just about the only round where Ali actually has some success. He is clearly much slower than his prime but he shows cameos of how Larry would struggle with a much faster prime Ali (from 13 years before 1980!!!!!). Larry clearly did not like Ali dancing and jabbing, he'd have hated it in Ali's prime!!

By the time Larry Holmes got to Ali, he was way past prime and deteriorating physically. But I wonder how a prime Ali would fare against Larry Holmes? They used to spare together and people would say that Larry gave him all he could handle, but I'm not sure if Larry beat a prime Ali. What do you say? If both were in their prime and have the same abilities at the time.Holmes would win by TKO.... Ali was smaller then,has'nt fully developed his techniques which Holmes learned from him early in his career.

i did not see any of that but as per your description of the sparring, imho ali really trained and planned for the rope a dope trick ... Oh yeah, big time. His corner was unaware, but I think he planned it all along.

Oh, well I don't know about the body shots and parkinsons, more just the point that Ali would allow his sparring partners to beat him up. I don't know where there's a clip sorry. Try YouTube for Ali and Holmes sparring. i did not see any of that but as per your description of the sparring, imho ali really trained and planned for the rope a dope trick ...

I think a prime Ali coasts to victory via UD though I think the fight would be a chess match competitive on both ends. Peace.

do you know where can I find a clip on the internet? i thought parkinson is more related to hits on the head rather than the body? Oh, well I don't know about the body shots and parkinsons, more just the point that Ali would allow his sparring partners to beat him up. I don't know where there's a clip sorry. Try YouTube for Ali and Holmes sparring.

If you watch "Don King: Only in America" they show some scenes of the sparring. Before the Foreman fight, Ali told Holmes to just work the body, over and over. do you know where can I find a clip on the internet? i thought parkinson is more related to hits on the head rather than the body?

holmes shouldn't be underestimated, imo he is the bigger man out of the two, has the better jab and most cases that alone should be enough. but in most cases weren't talking about a fighter like ali, imo ali could be very elusive and slippery. his speed and reflexes would mean that he could counter holmes. holmes would be a game fighter though, he was athletically gifted himself and was smart in the ring. but ali's speed and cunning would be too much. i dont underestimate larry, imho its a better match up, prime holmes post retirement/ban ali ...

yeah that's interesting tidbit ...that is a great find if ever ... If you watch "Don King: Only in America" they show some scenes of the sparring. Before the Foreman fight, Ali told Holmes to just work the body, over and over.

Ali wins a clear decision. The notion that Holmes gave Ali all he could handle probably stems from the fact that Ali almost exclusively worked on defense in sparring post Foreman. I saw an interview with Holmes once where he said said that Ali's braindamage might have come from his sparring and that he never understood why he'd let his sparringpartners work him over so hard. Hmm, very interesting. You don't happen to know where that video is? yeah that's interesting tidbit ...that is a great find if ever ...

holmes shouldn't be underestimated, imo he is the bigger man out of the two, has the better jab and most cases that alone should be enough. but in most cases weren't talking about a fighter like ali, imo ali could be very elusive and slippery. his speed and reflexes would mean that he could counter holmes. holmes would be a game fighter though, he was athletically gifted himself and was smart in the ring. but ali's speed and cunning would be too much.

we are talking primes ... before vietnam years layoff ... no way ... ali was just faster, better than Larry at their peaks...

Hmm, very interesting. You don't happen to know where that video is? No. And I'm not 100% certain that it was in a vid.

Ali wins a clear decision. The notion that Holmes gave Ali all he could handle probably stems from the fact that Ali almost exclusively worked on defense in sparring post Foreman. I saw an interview with Holmes once where he said said that Ali's braindamage might have come from his sparring and that he never understood why he'd let his sparringpartners work him over so hard. Hmm, very interesting. You don't happen to know where that video is?

By the time Larry Holmes got to Ali, he was way past prime and deteriorating physically. But I wonder how a prime Ali would fare against Larry Holmes? They used to spare together and people would say that Larry gave him all he could handle, but I'm not sure if Larry beat a prime Ali. What do you say? Ali wins a clear decision. The notion that Holmes gave Ali all he could handle probably stems from the fact that Ali almost exclusively worked on defense in sparring post Foreman. I saw an interview with Holmes once where he said said that Ali's braindamage might have come from his sparring and that he never understood why he'd let his sparringpartners work him over so hard.

When they say "Larry gave him all he could handle" they are talking about Ali from the Foreman days aren't they? that is waay past Ali's prime. I think Ali would beat Holmes, Ali was better at using angles than Holmes who was stiffer and tight at times. I think Ali's suppleness, hand speed, fluid movement would offset that tighter,stiffer Holmes. Holmes would find it hard to get his jab off against prime Ali who used his legs. I agree with you, see: See I don't know about that. Holmes was all wrong for a old, STATIONARY Ali. A dancing Ali would've been much tougher for Holmes. Not as easy to stick a jab when a guy is moving all around.

By the time Larry Holmes got to Ali, he was way past prime and deteriorating physically. But I wonder how a prime Ali would fare against Larry Holmes? They used to spare together and people would say that Larry gave him all he could handle, but I'm not sure if Larry beat a prime Ali. What do you say? When they say "Larry gave him all he could handle" they are talking about Ali from the Foreman days aren't they? that is waay past Ali's prime. I think Ali would beat Holmes, Ali was better at using angles than Holmes who was stiffer and tight at times. I think Ali's suppleness, hand speed, fluid movement would offset that tighter,stiffer Holmes. Holmes would find it hard to get his jab off against prime Ali who used his legs.