Larry Holmes Is The Goat Heavyweight

[Nash out]

I Think Larry Holmes is wildly overrated. Won a few disputed decisions in his prime as well, let's not conveniently forget that. I think his resume is quite weak, and for me, no real stand out wins. he reigned in a very weak era. He'd be a fringe contender today.

[Anthony342]

Holmes did receive a few gifts IMHO. Witherspoon and Williams. Carl was a local guy who I met and seemed like a good dude. We were psyched that he was getting a shot at Holmes and I certainly thought that he pulled out the win. In those days you really had to "beat" the champ to get the nod. I always rooted against Holmes and he usually dissapointed me but he was a great fighter!

Yeah, you really had to "beat" the champ, until Holmes fought Spinks, then that all seemed to change.

[Anthony342]

Wasn't undisputed, but at least was lineal when he beat Ali's corpse. And had 12 lineal defenses. That's all that counts, not 20 defenses of 1 piece of the title. Undisputed or lineal is all that counts. Holmes is top 5 at best.

[MikeyMike100]

- -No heavy has a title record setting 0-6, 0 KOs vs standing champs having won their tiles in the ring like Holmesy.

Good comic value too watching him go off the rails at his IBHOF induction wher he managed to get tossed the day before.

Gracias!

Ken Norton was officially WBC Champion when they fought. Also Ray Mercer was WBO (I know not officially regarded as a major sanctioning body) Champion.

Larry did lose to Prime Tyson, Holyfield, when he was older and 2 close fights to Michael Spinks

[GhostofDempsey]

He's a top ten ATG HW. Never had that big name rival or signature win to put him over the top, but he is a long day for any HW in history or at present. Great jab and chin, decent power, good closer. Would love to have seen him in some fantasy match ups against Foreman, Liston, prime Ali, Louis, Lewis, Wilder, Vitali, etc.

[DeeMoney]

This is why I prefer greatest as 'who you believe was best at their best' as opposed to resume and accomplishments. Because then you can cherry pick accomplishments and use them as your evidence. Moreover, not everyone has the same opportunity to compile equal resumes; so greatness becomes as much of a measurement of when you fought and who your promoter was.

That being written, I've always felt Holmes was a top all time heavyweight, nothing against him being brought up as such. And for those who favor longevity over peak (not me, but to each their own) he can definitely be moved up high on that ladder.

[slicksouthpaw16]

I have Holmes in my top 5 but he'll never be greater than Ali, same reason Kobe was never considered better than MJ. Both great, but one clearly modeled his entire game after the other and didn't accomplish as much. I'd take Ali becoming the first to regain the title 3 times, beating a prime Foreman, Frazier and Liston, and having the majority of his best wins coming AFTER he was past his prime over anything Holmes did. I'm saying this as a big Holmes fan too.

[QueensburyRules]

Ken Norton was officially WBC Champion when they fought. Also Ray Mercer was WBO (I know not officially regarded as a major sanctioning body) Champion.

Larry did lose to Prime Tyson, Holyfield, when he was older and 2 close fights to Michael Spinks

- -Kenny never won a world title match though most thought he beat Ali in their rubber.

[Marchegiano]

I like Larry, but he's one of those that I liked less after I found out more about him. He had a nice reign and nice resume and nice skills, but, WBC solo? That **** was lame. How you going to claim to be tying Marciano when Marciano was the undisputed and you're a single strapper?

[Dynamite76]

- -Kenny never won a world title match though most thought he beat Ali in their rubber.

It is not Kenny's fault that Ali ducked him a 4th time.