Larry Holmes said that he should be the greatest, he said that his jab is too hard and fast for Ali and he is?

Question

too big for Joe Louis. Go to Yahoo Sports under boxing to read the rest of his comment. Do you agree with him?

Answer 1

No I don't agree with him.  Larry H. fought Ali at the end of his career, when Ali wasn't as fast.

In his prime, Ali would have embarrassed Holmes and probably won a 12 rd TKO.  (remember they used to fight 15 rds)

Answer 2

I have always maintained that ''The Easton Assasin'' was one if not THE most underrated Heavyweight Champions of all time. I feel he had the best jab in Heavyweight history, it was like a telephone pole with a fist at the end!

And his heart could never be questioned. His problem was like some have stated b4 me he came after Ali and that was a HUGE shadow to overcome for any fighter. When he was champ a lot of us dismissed him but like any great champion he fought and beat everyone in his era until father time caught him with Spinks then Tyson.

But still showed he had some left in the basement when he went 12 rds. with Holyfield.

B4 he became Ali and lost 3 years of boxing to his problems with the government, Cassius Clay was a blur with his jab. Holmes had a harder jab but a young Ali had a faster one. I have Larry in my own personal top 10 but far below Louis who would have beaten Holmes similier to how Tyson did.

Answer 3

The jab is the punch that start combos and keep fighters off of you. Holmes had a very hard thudding jab. What he did to Cooney and Cobb was horrific especially Cobb. Ali's jab was quick and flicker like and used it to sneak a right in after kind of like Hearns. If both would have fought each other in their primes Ali would land more quicker than Holmes with the jab, but Holmes' jab would be harder. Now Louis also had a hard jab and he made several faces look a mess look at Braddock when he fought Louis, Braddock's face look like it be ran though a chesse grater. If Holmes had fought Louis it would have been Louis who would had hurt Holmes several times, and would have KO'd him late in the fight. Overall Homes in my list of top heavies is in the top 10. Very underrated fighter and champion.

Answer 4

Larry stayed around too long and came back when he should have stayed retired.

He was a sparing partner for Ali and if he wanted to could have fought him.

In his prime Ali would have destroyed Holmes.

Comparing him to Louis or anyone not from his era is only talk and doesn't settle anything.

Answer 5

I think he's getting delusional in his old age. He's at best lower top 10 or top 15. He couldn't carry Ali or Louis's jockstrap.

Answer 6

I think a prime Holmes could have beaten any Heavyweight other than Ali (even after Tyson brutalized him, he admitted that if Larry Holmes was at his best I wouldn't stand a chance).

Ali could outbox him I believe, he was more fluid and mobile than Holmes; remember Ken Norton was almost able to outpoint Holmes.  I think Ali would have adjusted to Holmes fast jab, the way he was able to adjust to every variation of style he faced.

Holmes is an all-time great, without question, and he may have even been more well rounded than Ali because of his edge in power - but its not all about who can hit the hardest or throw a jab the fastest - Ali was the superior boxer, adjusting, gaining a mental edge; all that combined with his tremendous physical gifts made him the greatest, and would allow him to take Holmes, probably creating a distance in the late rounds on his way to a decision.

Answer 7

Larry Holmes in my opinion is one of the most underrated fighters of all time.   He was a great champion without a doubt and had great boxing skills, toughness, and one of the best jabs in boxing history.  I don't think at his best, that he would have been an easy fight for anyone.  Muhammad Ali at his very best, was faster and had better footwork than Holmes.  I'm talking about the Ali of 64-67 era.  Holmes probably would have given a good account of himself, but would have lost a unanimous decision to Ali.  Joe Louis is an all time great who could do it all.  He had above average speed, a thudding powerful jab, and tremendous power in either hand.  Holmes would be fortunate if he went the distance with Louis who would either beat Larry by late round kayo or by decision.  Larry was great and I'll give him his due, but he was not better than Ali or Louis during their prime years.

Billy Duke, for calling me a fraud and insulting me again, I am once again reporting you.  You just don't seem to get it do you?  I am an honest man and need not have to prove anything at all to the likes of you pal.

Answer 8

I agree that Homes' jab was the best in heavyweight history.  Ali's jab was the fastest while Liston's jab was the most powerful.  Larry's jab was fast, stiff and had enough power to jar his opponents.  But hey, to say that he should be the greatest is just ridiculous.  The guy just needs attention much like George Foreman when he claimed sometime ago that he was drugged during the Ali fight.  Why can't these guys move on? Their places in boxing history are well-secured.

Answer 9

Larry said a lot of things, but still lost twice to a light heavy.  Talk is cheap.

Answer 10

As great as Holmes was I disagree. No heavyweight could handle Ali between 1964 and 1967. His combination of hand/foot speed to go along with his great peripheral vision would make him extremely tough to beat. At this time Ali would be constantly on the move against Holmes. Larry had a very stiff jab, maybe the best jab ever as a heavyweight. Having said that he would have a hard time finding Ali to hit him with that jab. Ali by a decision due to his constant movement, ring generalship and effective flurrying.

If Holmes could get off the canvas against Shavers, he could get off the canvas against Louis. Holmes would be smart enough not to go toe to toe with Louis. Having said that could Louis cut off the ring against Holmes? I believe he could. Louis by a controversial split decision. Due to effective aggression.

Answer 11

i agree with larry. he gets a lot of disrespect and not giving proper status because people did not like holmes at all. he came after the peoples champ(ali) retired and wasn't what they were use to in a champ. he wasn't flamboyent and couldn't hype a fight like ali did. i mean he was 6'3 225 with a great jab. Ali had a fast one but it wasn't as crisp as holmes. look at old fights of holmes and ali and see really see how great holmes was. the only problem was that he didn't have a difining rival like ali did with frazier and forman. In his prime holmes never lost. he was in his downslide when he did finally lost a fight. Holmes was very smart and effective in the ring but most people will never give him his true respect

Answer 12

I don't find a single thing about Holmes making such comments.  Could you post a link?  The only thing i find in yahoo boxing is this:  

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=Aq...

but I don't see any comments from the Easton Assassin.

Let me agree with the premise about Larry's jab.  Ali, in his prime, used foot and head movement to evade punches.  Made Sonny Liston look feeble, but it's not a sound method of defense for most fighters.  Larry's jab was too fast to defend  in that manner, and Holmes would have blown up Ali's defense.  Average heavies would get hit by Holmes' jab and then react after Larry began to retract his left.  Holmes' jab would force Ali to fight Holmes differently than he fought anyone else.  I don't think Big Lar was better, but he is the only heavy that could have given the primed Ali any trouble.  He'd have forced Ali into a full guard, with Muhammad looking to counterpunch with flurries and all-in-all force the greatest to fight harder.

Billy Conn was a small guy and outboxed Louis until Conn's Irish-ness set in.  Larry was much bigger and better, and would have not succumbed to Louis' rallying for a KO.

Answer 13

I agree about his jab. His jab was strong and would give anyone problems. The comeback hurts his case but I think he deserves to be talked about in the greats of the heavyweight division.

However, I don't think he would be able to handle Ali of Louis. He would put on a decent fight, but I don't think he could hang with either one.

Answer 14

Look Larry Holmes was a great champion but to me he was not a Hall of Fame Champion or an exciting one to watch ! He fought Ali when he was well,well passed his prime and had no business being in the ring !!!! Larry Holmes should just accept that he was a soild fighter during his era and keep it moving .!!!!!!!!!

Answer 15

Larry could do it all.  He wasn't the greatest but anyone who places him before 6 doesn't know boxing well.  Larry could BOX or FIGHT whenever he needed to.  He showed NO FEAR, which is one reason he would beat Tyson easier than most think.  

Ali had a faster jab but Larry did more damage with his.  Overall, Larry's jab was the best ever.  I think that's widely agreed upon by people who know boxing.  Joe Louis and Sonny Liston both had very strong jabs but Sonny's was slow and Louis has to get a lot closer than Holmes would have to.  

Ali and Louis stand above the rest of the division.  However,  Holmes and Lennox Lewis have the best chance of beating either Ali or Louis.  Lennox would lose to both Ali and Holmes because either could find a way to take him into the later rounds without getting Knocked out early.  Louis could get KO'd early against Lennox but would win if he could get past round 6 or so.  

Larry would lose a close one to Ali.  However, the post exile Ali might well lose a close one to Prime Holmes.  Holmes' prime was 1980-82.  Ali's prime would have been 67-69.  

Overall, I place Larry Holmes third.  Ali and Louis are above the rest.  THEN you have the TOP 10 as follows in order that each held the title.  

Johnson

Dempsey

Marciano

Liston

Frazier

Forman

Holmes

Tyson

Holyfield

Lewis

Of these champions none would go undefeated in a series of battles vs the others on the list.  Holmes and Lewis would suffer fewer losses.  Liston, Dempsey and Frazier  would suffer the most losses.

Answer 16

Nobody could beat Ali in his prime, but his prime wasn't forever! When Ali came back, after Frazier, it's extremely possible to say Holmes would beat him. Norton beat the living daylights of Ali and Holmes was a great fighter as well! People always tend to forget that Larry Holmes was an INCREDIBLE champion, I wouldn't put it aside to say Holmes could beat Ali around the time he beat Foreman and had his other fights with Frazier and Norton, but back when he was Cassius...no way. He would stop him on his feet, much like how I think a RJJ vs. JoeC matchup would've played out before Roy went to heavyweight.