[Boxing]

Okay..So larry holmes beleaves that he is the best heavyweigh of all time and that he doesnt get his credit because he lived in muhammad alis shadow. Now larry holmes was an amazin fighter. He won a fight against butter bean when he was 52 YEARS OLD. Now i know butterbean is no world class opponant (although alot of people think he is) But this is still an amazing feat. He boxed him for 10 whole rounds. Some boxers in there 20`s get winded in 4 round fights. He was in his 50's!!! Not too mention in his prime he beat names such as Ken nortan in a 15 round SD, earnie shavers 12 ud and a 11 rd tko, He beat MUHAMMAD ALI (albeit he was well past his prime), He beat Leon spinks in a 3rd round tko. This is an impressive resume. The guys an amazing fighter. Now Larry Holmes in my opinion gave himself far too much credit, with statements like "rocy marciano couldnt carry my jock strap." But i do belave his skills have been lost in the shadow of muhammad ali.
What do you guys thin? Do you think he diserves more credit or do you think he thought too highly of himself?

 

[bill1234]

About the Marciano thing, he appologized for that later on, he said that after he was robbed of the first Michael Spinks fight. He had the best jab in boxing history, he was light on his feet, and had a good right. All fighters think they are or were better than they are/were, emphasis on Muhammad Ali with that.

 

[TommyGunn]

but bill ali was that good, the form he showed beating liston is the best in hw history the likes of lewis,holmes and tyson weren't even close to that level.

 

[bill1234]

Ali was not "the greatest" nobody was. Its just the fact that your only one punch away from victory or defeat. I mean look how close Shavers came to taking the title away from a clearly dominateing Holmes in their second fight.

 

[The Auctioneer]

Holmes got bad press because of the Marciano remark,which he did apologize for but the press never really forgave him.Most of the post fight interviews were not jovial because of this.....He ended up with a great record and accomplished much in a tough sport yet he was not the "greatest" he belongs up ther in the top 10 or 20 as we have seen from Ted's lists as compared to other hvywts.

 

[bill1234]

He is a top 5 for sure.

 

[prettyboywho]

maybe a top 10 for me

 

[bill1234]

I have him at 3, after Louis and Marciano.

 

[prettyboywho]

wow that high bill1234

 

[bill1234]

Yes, it is sort of a tie between him and Ali.

 

[Sonny Liston]

In my opinion... Larry Holmes was the Number 4 greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Behind Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano and Joe Louis. I'd put Mike Tyson in there... but Mike Tyson was only at his absolute very best for a few years in the 80s and he was only in his early 20s... he didn't have that kind of unbeatable boxing style ever again... not since his win over Michael Spinks.

 

[bill1234]

4 is reasonsble.

 

[Sonny Liston]

4 is reasonsble.

Thank You! I had to put him at number 4... how could I put him past names like Ali, Marciano and Lewis? Also... I will have a go at Holmes for his arrogance in later years... claiming that "Marciano couldn't carry my jockstrap" and crapping on about how much he'd kick Mike Tyson's ass. I'd never seen that side of Larry Holmes before... it was a side that I really didn't like. He deserved that whopping from Mike Tyson!!!

 

[bill1234]

Larry later on publicly appologized for the Marciano thing, but I thnk he was just pissed that Marciano's children were praying and telling people that they hoped Larry would lose when he fought Spinks the first time. And Larry really would have beat the crap out of Tyson in his prime, I mean think about it... he took Shavers best shots I think he could handle Tysons shots. Also Larry got his arm tangled in the ropes when he got KO'd in the corner. I think Larry would have gotten up and finished the round he only had 10 seconds to go.

 

[Sonny Liston]

Larry later on publicly appologized for the Marciano thing, but I thnk he was just pissed that Marciano's children were praying and telling people that they hoped Larry would lose when he fought Spinks the first time. And Larry really would have beat the crap out of Tyson in his prime, I mean think about it... he took Shavers best shots I think he could handle Tysons shots. Also Larry got his arm tangled in the ropes when he got KO'd in the corner. I think Larry would have gotten up and finished the round he only had 10 seconds to go.

In my opinion... Tyson beat Holmes fair and square in that bout... HOWEVER... if Holmes in his prime took on Tyson in his prime... that'll be one of the greatest and closest bouts EVER!!!

 

[bill1234]

Tyson did beat Holmes fair and square, but Larry's right arm hit the ropes when he threw the right uppercut. We both know what happened next.

 

[Sonny Liston]

Tyson did beat Holmes fair and square, but Larry's right arm hit the ropes when he threw the right uppercut. We both know what happened next.

AWESOME... we completely agree on something! That makes me feel so good... Holmes circa 1980 vs. Tyson circa 1988 = One of the greatest, closest and most eagerly anticipated boxing matches... EVER!

 

[JCC]

All fighters think they are or were better than they are/were, emphasis on Muhammad Ali with that.

I've never given much thought to that ... . but now that I have I would have to say you are right about that.

JC

 

[JCC]

In my opinion... Larry Holmes was the Number 4 greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.

When it comes to who is the greatest heavyweight champion of them all?

You are going to hear alot of people say Muhammad Ali.

Others will say, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Jack Johnson, or whoever else?

The choice ... is often personal and basied and, in truth, it is impossible to accurately determine who is the greatest heavyweight champion of them all.

For each those great champions was by far the best of his era. They defeated all the top contenders.

You mentioned Larry Holmes! He's a great champion ... and was by far the best in his era, just as the other great champions were. Larry Holmes was no second rate fighter or second rate champion. He was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. And that's something that all those today calling themselves world heavyweight champions are not.

JC

 

[tyson]

holmes is somewhere in the top ten heavyweights of all time. maybe 8