Larry Homes better than Ali? Should Holmes be GOAT?

[Scott9945]

Holmes could beat Foreman how? Ali was quicker on his feet than Holmes and he was trapped against the ropes. So would Holmes. The main difference is Ali could take a body punch way better than Holmes could and was a lot better at pulling his head away at the last second. Holmes ducked Foreman in their primes for a reason. Not because he believe he could win.

That is total fiction. When Foreman retired Holmes was an unknown contender who would have taken any opportunity for a fight that big.

[spam]

Did you just read my last post kid? Foreman wanted to fight Holmes if he couldn't get to Ali and Holmes people declined and Holmes never said anything about it because he knew he couldn't be Foreman. End of story.

[StarshipTrooper]

Did you just read my last post kid? Foreman wanted to fight Holmes if he couldn't get to Ali and Holmes people declined and Holmes never said anything about it because he knew he couldn't be Foreman. End of story.

Apparently it's not the end of the story since at least one poster disputes your claim.

Btw, I've more than one of your posts and in damn near every one you're calling a consensus ATG "overrated". Well who, then, do you think ISN'T overrated? Please do tell!

[Tommo1]

Larry Holmes is one of those gap bridging fighters for me.

I personally see him beating Ali myself and I do think he would pose the most difficulty for a modern HW like Lewis.

Against Shaver's although I don't rate the opponent in battle royale he displayed his jab which while I would not describe it as better than Lewis or Klitschko's because it lacked the power it was as sharp and as fast as a rattle snake strike! Not the pawing jab I see from Muhammad.

Holmes is the "King of the featherfists" to me you might say lol. I don't think he could withstand a prime Tyson though.

Of course all matches are close calls for Holmes and nobody was having a sure or easy night!

So certainly not GOAT to me but he ranks with the best of them! I would place him above Ali and FAR FAR ahead of Louis who I don't rate as competitive at all.

[GoldenGloveLove]

Ali's resume takes the biggest dinosaur turd known to man on Larry's.

[tenPt]

Holmes is up there but didn't pass Ali and Louis.

[LacedUp]

Larry Holmes is one of those gap bridging fighters for me.

I personally see him beating Ali myself and I do think he would pose the most difficulty for a modern HW like Lewis.

Against Shaver's although I don't rate the opponent in battle royale he displayed his jab which while I would not describe it as better than Lewis or Klitschko's because it lacked the power it was as sharp and as fast as a rattle snake strike! Not the pawing jab I see from Muhammad.

Holmes is the "King of the featherfists" to me you might say lol. I don't think he could withstand a prime Tyson though.

Of course all matches are close calls for Holmes and nobody was having a sure or easy night!

So certainly not GOAT to me but he ranks with the best of them! I would place him above Ali and FAR FAR ahead of Louis who I don't rate as competitive at all.

Why do you insist on ruining the history section with your constant trolling? Every post you make downgrades Ali and says anyone before 1986 is a feather fist. You say the same things in every post and abou half the posters here have put you on ignore. It's a shame. I just think you look at history a little bit differently to many others. It's not comparable to today. That's why it's history. And it certainly is not about numbers.

With regards to Holmes as a fighter, he could very well be better than Ali. Not as naturally talented as Ali 64-67, but post excile, Holmes '78-83 was every bit as good. He did a lot of things technically better and more correct. Didn't lean back, better jab etc. in terms of textbook boxing, Holmes was excellent. His résumé is also very underrated IMO. Guys like Norton, Shavers, Cooney, Mercer were Solid guys and would have been just as good in this or any other era for that matter.

Unfortunately, Holmes never did anything particularly legendary. He had an incredible reign, but was over shadowed by Ali's presence. Holmes couldn't so anything right sometimes. Everybody said Ali was the special one. At the end of the day, Holmes is a 5-10 ranked heavy, Ali is number 1 or 2 depending on who you ask. But overcame adversity a lot of times against guys people didn't think he could beat. That's what made te difference. Holmes never really did that. Maybe against Mercer, but that's it.

[Tommo1]

I wish you would too Laced Up...

Anyway as to spam, I heard that Holmes was trying for ages to get Foreman to fight him during their comebacks. Foreman apparently always declined did he not?

Obviously prime Foreman would not have feared him but by the time Larry was established, Foreman was retired and I don't think I ever heard that Foreman wanted anything to do with Larry.

[spam]

I called Marciano who is a bum that only whites like to build up overrated and Ali and Holmes are overrated. Any person who gets put on a pedestal Poet is overrated. No human deserves to be worshiped. There are no unbeatable fighters, When people say you are the greatest when their is no greatest then you are overrated in my book.

[$Bullsfam$]

Should have asked is Larry the best head to head heavyweight because it seemed like you were trying to say Larry was greater then ali by calling him great which isnt the case compared to what Ali has done.

I dont think Larry could do what Ali did to Smokin Joe the last two times. I think Smokin Joe breaks him. Holmes was never really tested in his prime against a relentless swarmer like Joe who was short and stockey with amazing head movement and amazing ability to cut off the ring with gas tank for ages.

Louis as the best chance of a clean KO because like Smokin Joe hes smaller which makes it harder for pure boxers to keep them off. Not to mention he was alot harder puncher. Larry would bank some rounds but Louis would catch him.

Even Tyson favors in that same category though he has the best chance at losing if Tyson didnt catch him early. Thats 50/50 fight prime for prime IMO.

If Larry was in Alis shoes against prime Foreman I think he gets murked. Larry doesnt have the all time great chin and composure that helped Ali take the punishment he did against George.

Liston would have been a great fight. If Liston hurt him early hed have a great shot because of that lethal jab. Again I dont know if Larry is tough enough to battle in the trenches with Sonny like Ali. I think its winnable for Larry though.

Wlad would probably beat him imo. I always thought Ali would find a way to beat Wlad because Ali found a way to beat everybody. Again I dont know if Larry is durable enough since his competition was as great. Neither was Wlad but I find it hard somebody like Holmes is going to be able to stay on the outside of Wlads long jab and outbox him when Wlad doesnt give any openings. Ali would work harder to find openings where I feel Wlad would wear Larry down with his clinching and after constsntly keeping him at bay with the jab.

Vital is Larrys best match up imo. Vital is big and can be rangy like his brother but is more aggressive and gives a lot more openings. Wlad is great against pure boxers and Vital is great against aggressors. I think Larry could outbox Vital comfortably.


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