Muhammad ali of the Cleveland Williams fight vs the Larry Holmes of the Gerry Cooney fight,?

Question

who wins?

Answer 1

It would have been a great boxing match between two of the finest jabs in the history of boxing.  Ali during his prime had superior footwork and great reflexes that were far gone when they fought in 1980.  Ali the night he fought Williams may have beat anybody in the history of boxing as he was that good that night landing everything at will with blinding speed.  As fast as Holmes was, he was not as fast as Ali at his best.  Ali would win 9 of 15 rounds and win a unanimous decision in a tough fight.

Answer 2

Ali.

Ali was at his peak in 1966. Best heavyweight ever.

Answer 3

ali controls the action and wins a comfortable decision.

Answer 4

I cant believe people compare what Larry Holmes did to Ali at the end of his career towards what Ali did at his prime. When Ali fought Holmes he was a shell of his former self.

Holmes was in his prime when he fought Ali, who had abandoned using his footwork and fought flatfooted...was older...not even a quarter of his speed...his wind was gone...and his eating habits were notoriously horrible. He wasnt even showing up to training anymore, as was reflected in his body (Ali pullled his shorts WAY up over his stomach).

As much respect as I have for Larry Holmes...he doesn't have it in his skill set to even CATCH a Cassius Clay, much less the smarter stronger boxer Ali was in the seventies.

And I will give that Holmes had a awesome jab....but in stiffness I wouldn't say that it was THAT much better than Alis in his prime. Ali could win an entire fight on his jab....he could fire it from a relaxed position...from any angle...hit you anywhere...WHILE MOVING.

Holmes, wont give him that much due. Wouldn't have gone nine against Cassius...and would've gone a brutal eleven or twelve rounds against the Ali of the seventies, but most of the brutal would have been Holmes side.

Answer 5

I think the Ali that beat Williams, would have beat anybody that night. Watch it on youtube and see before you disagree. Scarey thing is Ali was just coming into his best years. His body was filling out and he was still much faster than anyone before or since in the division. He had the lateral movement that was the model for Sugar Ray Leonard & Floyd Mayweather, but at a heavier weight. When he stood flat footed, his punches were strong, quick and accurate and Williams head resembled a speed bag.

Holmes was never Ko'd until he was old, so I'd say Ali would take it by a easy dec.

Answer 6

if any of you knew this, but Larry Holmes was one of Muhammad Ali's sparring partners in those days! and that's where he learned sweet science of boxing from the Greatest himself!

so, Larry wouldn't have a chance!