Larry Holmes, the man

[Willie Pep 229]

Probably stated already but Larry Holmes, The Man became great to me when he pulled himself off the canvas against Shavers. Many wouldn't have.

IMO just wining doesn't make you a 'great fighter' -- that happens when those moments that test your mettle occur. Some are just great boxers who never become great fighters.

[HOUDINI563]

Holmes had great will to win. No doubt.

[Nash out]

Holmes benefited from fighting in a very, very, very, very, very, weak era, and also benefited from wins in fights that he lost on points (robberies) Shavers was a big punching journeyman, nothing more than a poor man's David Price. Nash out - boxing expert.

[medic5678]

Not the most charismatic, but a decent Heavyweight Champ. I always liked his manner. We'll never know how the champs of one era would stand against the others. A man is only in his prime for a few years and those are impossible fights.

[QueensburyRules]

Probably stated already but Larry Holmes, The Man became great to me when he pulled himself off the canvas against Shavers. Many wouldn't have.

- -Did he become great when he pulled himself off the canvas vs Reynoldo who was coming off being manhandled by Coetzee, but conveniently already penciled in for Lar? Or when he promptly headed the padded turnbuckles after arising, near a guaranteed KO loss, but not this fight?

Good comeback, but really, Reynaldo!

[HOUDINI563]

Anyone sold on a nothing like Fury has no position to knock Holmes who was competitive and beat good heavyweights into his 40’s and is universally considered as an ATG heavyweight champion.

[Ben Bolt]

Holmes benefited from fighting in a very, very, very, very, very, weak era, and also benefited from wins
in fights that he lost on points (robberies) Shavers was a big punching journeyman, nothing more than a poor man's David Price

Is the definition of a bad era when the champion continues to win?
Maybe the champ should lose one or another fight in between, so that
people realize that his era isn’t that bad …

Nash out - boxing expert.

Oh, my ...

[Willie Pep 229]

Is the definition of a bad era when the champion continues to win?
Maybe the champ should lose one or another fight in between, so that
people realize that his era isn’t that bad …



Oh, my ...

I was thinking the same thing - it is one if those damned if you do . . . You can work your way through this forum and see that same paradoxical argument used over and over - win all the time, you can't be great.

[Dynamite76]

Great fighter. Should have fought Thomas, Page, and had rematches with Williams and Witherspoon, but it is what it is.

[markusmod]

Great fighter. Should have fought Thomas, Page, and had rematches with Williams and Witherspoon, but it is what it is.

Good points by Dynamite.