Larry Holmes vs. Joe Frazier, 15 rounds, prime for prime

[JAB5239]

I, for one, rank Holmes as the all-time greater fighter of the two... I actually think Holmes is the 3rd greatest HW of all time.

However, how would Holmes deal with the most lethal swarmer in HW history? Would his jab and lateral movement allow for him to out-point Frazier?

In my opinion, no. Ali in 1971 was a better boxer than a prime Holmes, and Frazier was able to close the gap and drive Ali backwards on many occasions. I see Frazier winning by late stoppage.

I agree with all this except Frazier stopping Holmes. Larry was a tough guy with great recupperative skills. He'd have his moments but Fraziers pressure and workrate carry him to close but clear decision.

[them_apples]

I think Holmes would have a hard time hitting Joe to be honest. But prime Holmes was hella good and had plenty of speed too. I don't think he would be as open as Ali was since Ali in 71 still thought he had fast legs and often dropped his hands.

wen it comes down to it ali was more of a fighter than Holmes though, Holmes might wilt. It's hard to say though, I'd pick the best version of Frazier too beat him though.

[Canelo Phresh]

frazier bu ud or late tko.

[SCtrojansbaby]

How in any way is his win comfortable?

After the first 2 or 3 rounds Holmes would start to control the fight with his jab and Frazier wouldn't have an able to do much

[JAB5239]

After the first 2 or 3 rounds Holmes would start to control the fight with his jab and Frazier wouldn't have an able to do much

Holmes has the greatest all around heavyweight jab for my money. But it wasn't as fast as Ali's and he never moved as even the 1971 Ali. Frazier would be ducking under and slipping it just as he did with "The Greatest" and he would set a pace and dole out punishment of the likes Holmes never faced. The bottom line though is that NO ONE ever controlled Frazier with the jab.

[studentofthegam]

Larry Holmes wins a comfortable decision

I think so too. Holmes would jab him to death. Ali would have been better without the break. Not to say that Frazier would have good rounds throughout.

[Sugarj]

Holmes has the greatest all around heavyweight jab for my money. But it wasn't as fast as Ali's and he never moved as even the 1971 Ali. Frazier would be ducking under and slipping it just as he did with "The Greatest" and he would set a pace and dole out punishment of the likes Holmes never faced. The bottom line though is that NO ONE ever controlled Frazier with the jab.

For my money there wasn't much movement or dancing from the 1971 Ali. He barely danced at all in the first Frazier fight. Contrast this to the mobility Holmes showed against Shavers 1 or Cooney for example.

Ali seemed to get his legs back in the return fight with Norton in 1973, his dancing/moving in the second Frazier fight a year later was good too. But based on the films I'd rate prime Holmes's footwork and mobility a step ahead of 1971 Ali's.

[MJ223]

Tough fight to call, I could see a decision win either way based on who's form was best on the night.

In all honesty I do see Larry Holmes at the peak of his powers being better than the 1971 version of Ali though. Holmes would not spend as much time on the ropes as Ali absorbing body shots. Holmes's mobility and accuracy were better than 'that' version of Ali. Check out Holmes vs Shavers 1 for evidence of this.

For all the criticism of Shavers, he did come forward at a good pace in that fight and was cleverly eluded. Frazier would spend a fair amount of time chasing him down and being picked at a distance.

I agree. I would lean towards Holmes because of the jab and mobility but that hook that Joe threw had a way of changing things.

[jabsRstiff]

Larry Holmes was vulnerable to right hands. He always had a good defense against left hooks. Muhammad Ali was kind of the opposite. Holmes also had something Ali didn't- a very good right uppercut...and that would be helpful against Frazier.

I think Frazier would have his moments, but think Larry's left jab and size help him win a decision.

[kendom]

After the first 2 or 3 rounds Holmes would start to control the fight with his jab and Frazier wouldn't have an able to do much

yeah he would, like slip his jab and force him to punch down reducing his effectiveness, Holmes had problems with fighters able to put pressure on him, look at his war against Norton, he has never faced anywhere the pressure fighter in a prime Frazier.