Geoge Foreman VS Larry Holmes

[Panthershock]

Foreman would brutally knock out Holmes, Larry`s greatest career win was against Cooney or Norton both of whom Foreman destroyed, Foreman had one of the very best & underated jabs in heavyweight history.. Holmes jab was quicker but carried nothing like the power that Foremans jab carried, Holmes was very susceptible to big punchers, Shavers, Weaver, Tyson all had him on the floor, Foreman would not let him off the hook, Foreman was excellent at cutting off the ring as Muhammad Ali found out in Zaire and Holmes aint no Muhammad Ali.. i see this fight lasting less than 5rds with Foreman winning by KO

I have to strongly disagree with this. For starters using common opponents as an example doesn't work. Norton was successful against boxers (Ali, Jimmy Young) but not against big punchers (Shavers, Cooney, Foreman). Cooney was completely shot and only fought a few times in the past 7 years before the Foreman fight. You make a point about Holmes being susceptible to a big punch, true but look at the context of the knockdowns, they came middle to late fight when Holmes was ahead and let his guard down. Additionally Holmes ability to recuperate was outstanding, check out the fight with Renaldo Snipes. Foreman did have a good jab, but in his first career he was a very sloppy fighter, didn't stick with the jab and threw loopy punches that left him vulnerable and gassed pretty early into fights. He only had two stoppages past the 5th round against very subpar competition before his first retirement. He was also badly outboxed in a loss to Jimmy Young. Holmes was too fast and slick, especially early on for a prime Foreman to beat. He would have to get him down more than once to stop him. I see Holmes stopping a very tired Foreman around the 12th round, George has his moments early but Holmes survives and licks him with sharp combos. I think you vastly underrate Holmes, he wasn't Ali, but Ali in 74 wasn't close to what he was in the 60's. Larry Holmes in his prime is just as good or better than Ali in 74.

[sonnyboyx2]

I have to strongly disagree with this. For starters using common opponents as an example doesn't work. Norton was successful against boxers (Ali, Jimmy Young) but not against big punchers (Shavers, Cooney, Foreman). Cooney was completely shot and only fought a few times in the past 7 years before the Foreman fight. You make a point about Holmes being susceptible to a big punch, true but look at the context of the knockdowns, they came middle to late fight when Holmes was ahead and let his guard down. Additionally Holmes ability to recuperate was outstanding, check out the fight with Renaldo Snipes. Foreman did have a good jab, but in his first career he was a very sloppy fighter, didn't stick with the jab and threw loopy punches that left him vulnerable and gassed pretty early into fights. He only had two stoppages past the 5th round against very subpar competition before his first retirement. He was also badly outboxed in a loss to Jimmy Young. Holmes was too fast and slick, especially early on for a prime Foreman to beat. He would have to get him down more than once to stop him. I see Holmes stopping a very tired Foreman around the 12th round, George has his moments early but Holmes survives and licks him with sharp combos. I think you vastly underrate Holmes, he wasn't Ali, but Ali in 74 wasn't close to what he was in the 60's. Larry Holmes in his prime is just as good or better than Ali in 74.

you should take time out to watch Foreman vs Young because no way was Foreman "BADLY OUTBOXED" like you claim.. IMO Foreman won virtually every round, it is common for many to claim that Young decked Foreman, when infact they could not be further from the truth, Foreman tripped over Youngs foot and his right glove brushed the canvas and Foreman was rightly given a standing 8 count, but he was not decked or knocked off his feet, i had Foreman winning that fight.

Holmes was always thought of as being "Chinny" right up to his title winning fight with Norton.. Holmes hated Howard Cosell and even ridiculed him in his autobiography "Against the odds" because Cosell always claimed Holmes could not take a punch.. Roy Williams had Holmes down and on ***** street with the bell saving Holmes from certain KO, Ibar Arrington had Holmes down, Weaver had him down, Snipes had him down, Shavers had him down and many other had him rocked and on the verge of going down... Foreman in his prime was a different class of puncher to all those fighters

[TEDetc]

Foreman would brutally knock out Holmes, Larry`s greatest career win was against Cooney or Norton both of whom Foreman destroyed, Foreman had one of the very best & underated jabs in heavyweight history.. Holmes jab was quicker but carried nothing like the power that Foremans jab carried, Holmes was very susceptible to big punchers, Shavers, Weaver, Tyson all had him on the floor, Foreman would not let him off the hook, Foreman was excellent at cutting off the ring as Muhammad Ali found out in Zaire and Holmes aint no Muhammad Ali.. i see this fight lasting less than 5rds with Foreman winning by KO

Sorry but no. Foreman isn't KOing Holmes. He might stop him but he's not k.oing him. Also don't even try and compare jabs between these two, while Foreman had a solid ram-rod type jab which would hurt you, Holmes had a viper fast, stinging, accurate jab that is one of the ATG jabs in boxing history add onto the fact he was durable, could box on the outside, could slug it out and has the power to hurt Foreman, I'd give it to Holmes.

You say Holmes was susceptible to big punchers and list Tyson? Come off it bro. Why even list that fight? As for Shavers....did you see the punch Holmes took off him? That has to be one of the most devastating punches I've ever seen and Holmes got up from it then stopped Shavers only rounds later. Also lets not forget, Foremans chin isn't that great himself.....he was susceptible to getting tired out....Holmes was a 15 round fighter, Foreman was a brutal K.O artist the moment he realises he can't knock Holmes out, the fight is over.

[Panthershock]

I never claimed Young decked Foreman, I've seen the fight multiple times and IMO Jimmy Young CLEARLY won that fight. Howard Cossell said Ali had nothing left in his right hand during the Rumble broadcast...good call on that one. Larry Holmes hates everyone and is in all honesty paranoid...thinks the establishment wanted to stop his streak and is bitter to this day. I dont pay much into the Cossell-Holmes feud or there comments because of this. I've never seen the Roy Williams fight, but since he got a UD I'm assuming it was another winning-late in the fight scenario. Shavers in terms of punching power was definitely in Foreman's league, he may have even been a harder puncher. I do see your point about Holmes being vulnerable, but Holmes was vulnerable in the mid to late rounds, and Foreman usually was spent by then. If 70's Foreman had 90's Foreman's brain I would go with Foreman, but that wasnt the case. Sonnyboy, I don't mean to come off as harsh or condescending...I see where you're coming from with your argument , I just respectfully disagree. It's really a shame that this question was never answered in the ring circa 78-80.

[sonnyboyx2]

Holmes has the power to hurt Foreman?

[TEDetc]

Holmes has the power to hurt Foreman?

Yeah. If Ron Lyle could put Foreman on ***** street, Holmes can too. I don't mean just walk out and knock Foreman down in one punch though, I mean the accumilation from Holmes will eventually get to Foreman and he'll get stopped.

[Panthershock]

Holmes has the power to hurt Foreman?

Easy to get hurt if your tired or wide open. Prime Holmes hit harder than 74 Ali.

[Shazam!]

I would favour a late 70's/early 80's version of Holmes against Foreman. He had the kind of weapons which would undermine George's. He wouldn't have let George bully, push away and smack him like he did to Frazier.

Foreman did this a lot and much would depend on the referee. But a prime Holmes is just the kind of fighter that would show up Foreman's lack of skill and technique.

[Shazam!]

George's only chance would be early on, but I'd favour Larry to come through an early storm and from there it's all downhill for George. Holmes had a great chin and would jab George's head off just like Ali jabbed his head off, all night in Zaire. No way George gets a decision over Larry.

[NChristo]

Easy to get hurt if your tired or wide open. Prime Holmes hit harder than 74 Ali.

Ali didn't put Foreman down, Foreman did. Ali just aided him lol.