Noone ever mentions Larry Holmes. How come? Ithink he was one of the best heavies ever. I also think he won the second Spinks fight. Then to come back later and beat Mercer, give Tyson a decent run{at 100 yrs old}, and to even beat Butterbean in a circus event. Everyone says he beat the good guys past their prime. Marciano beat an old Louis, an old Walcott. Why cant Holmes get some credit?
Holmes does get credit..
He gets in my top 5 greatest heavyweight list
The ‘Eastern Assassin’ was a superb fighter, helped by the fact that he was Ali’s sparring partner for several years.
I think he got lucky to take the title on a decision from Ken Norton, Norton has a strong case for being robbed but it’s all history now.
Larry Holmes was a wonderfully talented boxer with a dream jab.
Holmes was a bit different than Ali in that he could fight on the inside too if he had to, whereas Ali usually just tied up inside. He did it early in his career against Norton and again several years later against Witherspoon. He had such a long career because he was basically an outside fighter who could avoid taking punishment by using his jab and staying away from big punchers. I usually rooted for his opponents because Larry was not the classiest guy outside the ring, and I prefer gutsy inside fighters. Inside the ring though, he dominated the heavyweight division for around 8 years. I put him up there with Lennox Lewis in heavyweight history.
Lennox vs Larry, prime and prime. Who do you pick?
hard one to judge, Lewis always had problems with the jab so Larry could win.
Id give Lewis the edge but it could go anyone’s way imo
Holmes like Ali and like Lewis had trouble with big guys who could jab…this being said it’s a toss up.
Holmes is an asshole though
Yes. He is an a-hole. Every time I see or hear about “Rocky”, I always picture Holmes being Clubber Lang. “I do my talkin in the ring”, and then pushing people down to get by. I recently watched a sports list about anger-management, and Holmes was on there when he ran on top of someones car and jumped off attacking another fighter.
He also constantly whined about being disrespected for being black, whined about money, and was the author of the infamous quote: “Rocky Marciano couldn’t carry my jock.”
(Which probably explains why I was so happy when Tyson knocked him TFO. I don’t care if Holmes WAS over the hill. I just wanted to see him on the canvas).
The thing about Holmes is that he could be a gutsy inside fighter when he needed to be, check this round out.. Probably have seen it but it really shows some incredible heart and grit, and an amazing chin.
louis beat an old braddock, charles beat an old louis
holmes has a case of the “marciano” because of his opposition he will never get all the credit he truly deserves, just like iron mike as well
I saw the Holmes-Witherspoon fight when it happened. Along with many others I thought that Holmes was gonna get knocked out in that round until he landed a giant counter right hand. Holmes had the rare quality of being able to change his strategy sometimes in the middle of a round, switching from boxer to puncher all-of-a-sudden. He hardly ever needed to fight that way, so many people have forgotten about it. People might have also forgotten what a great fighter Witherspoon was in those early years too, someone who could have achieved a lot more than he did with a little bit of luck and a more honest promoter.
He is the The Easton Assassin, because he is from Easton Pennslyvania.
I think he does not get a lot of credit because he was a boring fighter, and that was compounded by that fact that he followed the most excited boxer of all time, and preceeded mike tyson(who is anything but boring)
Regardless of how good a fighter is, who wants to see a heavyweight win a 15 round decision with a skillful jab.
I’ve watched him beat people in numerous ways. And Ive watched him bust up fighters with just pure boxing{like Tex Cobb}, the same way Calzaghe beat Lacy. Are you saying the Joe-Lacy fight was boring?
I watched him jab fighters with just pure boxing, the same way chris byrd beat DaVarryl Williamson. Are saying the Bryd-Williamson was exciting?
No. Not at all. Larry was alot more entertaining than Byrd. Larry outclasses Byrd. If the guy can’t get past your jab, why change. He could almost KO fighters with his jab. It’s not his fault the other guy was scared to get hit with the hook, after he felt the power of the jab.
CC Fella - what a round of boxing!!!
I don’t think Holmes is necessarily ignored or unappreciated, he was a very good allround fighter, a clever fighter. I can’t remember whether it was the fight against Snipes or Shavers but he got dropped heavily & when he got up he was shaky, the ref wanted to look into his eyes to see if he was ok but Holmes went for a walk around the ring as if to get his legs working properly, shaking his head & blinking. By the time the ref got to check him out he had bought valuable seconds & got his senses back, that’s real fighting instinct.
Trouble with Holmes is that he was dominant between Ali & Tyson.
[b] Larry Holmes was unfortunate to be in the shadow of Muhammad Ali.
He was certainly a great fighter and beat some very good fighters i.e. Shavers, Norton (although that was close), Berbick, Witherspoon, Smith etc.
I think he’d have given Ali a great fight at any stage in Ali’s career e.g. Prime for Prime.
Post Tyson there were other admirable performances i.e. Mercer, Holyfield, McCall (despite two of those being points losses).
Riddick Bowe is the closest to Holmes i’ve seen and i think that Holmes is a test for any Heavyweight in boxing history.[/b]
Right on the money… :coolclick: