Muhammad Ali Circa 1967 V Larry Holmes Circa 1977

[ThatOne]

Who wins and why?

[Goodnight, Irene]

Are you trying to make this prime-to-prime? I assume you are, in which case, you'd be better offering up the Holmes of around 79-82.

[BoxBuzz]

Technician's are great, and Larry is about the best Tech. But going up against an inventor, someone who "imagineers" his way to success is a hard call to make for Larry. Because Larry is predictable. So if you want to count beans like an accountant you might be tempted to call this one for Larry. In Ali's prime he simply
"Apollo 13'd" a way to win even if he had to pull out the duck tape. (An item that apparently turned up missing on that one day with Joe). Ali would be in the rare position of facing someone who can jab as well as he can but I don't think that spells defeat for Ali, but it probably does for Larry. Frazier has the style to do it, Larry does not.

Another thing, Larry would not have been as good a tech as he was if it was not for Ali, so take Ali out of the mentoring business for Larry and that raises the odds even higher.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I think Ali's victory here depends on the first four-to-six rounds. During that period, his awkward approach & unorthodox ring generalship --- coupled with his superior speed --- see him pull a long way ahead, while Holmes struggles to adapt.

It's a different story later in the fight, though, & behind the jab & a disciplined, active gameplan, Holmes finishes the stronger, losing only a close decision in the end. The money in the bank early on gets Ali the nod, but not by much.

[BoxBuzz]

Another thought, Like Frazier, Holmes always comes in serious. Ali would have to come in like he did for the second Frazier fight or maybe the Foreman fight. Or it just would not pan out.

[Robinson]

Inventor and Imagineer :)

So I guess its a case of Eugene Stoner vs Audie Murphy....

One invents to tools of the game, the other fights with them ;)

[Robinson]

Holmes in 1977 was still formidable, though untested. Though with
the benefit of hindsight we know how well he would go on to perform
a year or so later.

I think Holmes just wins. He has the size, form and speed to match
Ali and get the win. But who knows. Both are fit, talented and proud
men who would not yield to the other.

Tough one to call.

Im saying Holmes SD. But no arguments if some one swang the other
way from me.

[elmersalsa]

The 1979-82 version of the great Larry Holmes could have beaten any version of the great Muhammad Ali.

[Grimm]

The 1979-82 version of the great Larry Holmes could have beaten any version of the great Muhammad Ali.

[hhaehre]

The 1979-82 version of the great Larry Holmes could have beaten any version of the great Muhammad Ali.

And you base that on the series of world class, in their prime, fighters he defeated in that period? Monsters such as Evangelista and Ocasio. The only prime world class fighter he faced between 1979 and 1982 was Cooney and he got all he could handle that night.