Larry Holmes legacy? ------

[NYDominican]

Larry Holmes professional boxing legacy. ------

How do you think he rates all time in the heavyweight division?


Somewhere in the top 15?


Top 10?


Or, top 5?



Why?

[Controversial]

He had a great record but I can't help but think he had a lot of title defences against inexperienced fighters and he was beaten by a LHW, albeit a good one.

Ocasio (a cruiserweight) 13-0
Leon Spinks 10-2-2
Marvis Frazier 10-0
James Smith 14-1
David Bey 14-0
Witherspoon 15-0
Carl Williams 16-0 (gave him a tough fight)

Great chin, great jab but I feel was around at the right time to be as successful as he was.

[SamWise72]

Top three for me. Look at what some of those names went on to achieve. I'm perpetually stuck as to whether he or Louis belongs at #2.

[HomicideHenry]

IMHO Holmes was the greatest heavyweight of all time.

[gilgamesh]

Top three for me. Look at what some of those names went on to achieve. I'm perpetually stuck as to whether he or Louis belongs at #2.

Top 3 for me as well, behind only Ali and Louis.

[Ambling Alp II]

He had a great record but I can't help but think he had a lot of title defences against inexperienced fighters and he was beaten by a LHW, albeit a good one.

Ocasio (a cruiserweight) 13-0
Leon Spinks 10-2-2
Marvis Frazier 10-0
James Smith 14-1
David Bey 14-0
Witherspoon 15-0
Carl Williams 16-0 (gave him a tough fight)

Great chin, great jab but I feel was around at the right time to be as successful as he was.

The Witherspoon fight was about as even as it gets; it easily could have been scored for Witherspoon or a draw. However, it may have been Witherspoon's best fight. The Williams decision was horrible; Holmes looked horrible in that fight and Williams should have got the decision.

As for the inexperience of some of Holmes' opponents; their records are a little deceiving. They had been tested against decent opponents already. It was not like nowadays where almost every prosect automatically starts out 15-0 vs no-hopers.

Holmes was probably a Top 5 heavyweight; certainly Top 10. He was one of the 50 best fighters of all-time.

[Nile4000]

top ten minimum, even if he did duck Greg Page.

[Giancarlo]

top ten minimum, even if he did duck Greg Page.

Greg getting schooled by Trevor Berbick didn't make him look like a man Larry would have too much to worry about.

He looked to be getting back on track for a fight with Larry despite losing to Witherspoon, but the loss to Bey really removed any doubt of his place in the scheme of things.

[Nile4000]

top ten minimum, even if he did duck Greg Page.

Greg getting schooled by Trevor Berbick didn't make him look like a man Larry would have too much to worry about.

He looked to be getting back on track for a fight with Larry despite losing to Witherspoon, but the loss to Bey really removed any doubt of his place in the scheme of things.

Possibly, but, at the time of Berbick, Greg admitted he wasn't ready for a title shot, and wanted the WBA to drop his ranking(which they obliged), but when he was the undisputed contender, Larry didn't want a piece of him.In a lot of ways, Greg was much at fault as Larry was.

[Giancarlo]

top ten minimum, even if he did duck Greg Page.

Greg getting schooled by Trevor Berbick didn't make him look like a man Larry would have too much to worry about.

He looked to be getting back on track for a fight with Larry despite losing to Witherspoon, but the loss to Bey really removed any doubt of his place in the scheme of things.

Possibly, but, at the time of Berbick, Greg admitted he wasn't ready for a title shot, and wanted the WBA to drop his ranking(which they obliged), but when he was the undisputed contender, Larry didn't want a piece of him.In a lot of ways, Greg was much at fault as Larry was.

Yes,I remember Page turning down a chance to fight Holmes; he mentions it when interviewed before his bout on the Holmes - Witherspoon bill.

At his peak, he was obviously better than the likes of Scott Frank and I would certainly have prefered him in the ring with Larry rather than Marvis Frazier.

However, I don't recall any public perception that he was some sort of king in waiting and Larry was doing all he could to avoid meeting him.

I liked Greg and it was sad to see him getting bashed up long after he should have been comfortably retired. His ending was a real horror story.

But good fighter that he was, I believe Holmes not fighting him was more due to him losing at inopportune times when he really needed to win rather than Larry dodging him.

[llabwons]

Top 3 without a doubt, probably number 2. I think only a prime Ali would have beaten him in a tough struggle. Whilst I think his speed and movement would've been too much for Louis, Joe certainly deserves to be ranked as high so the number 2 and 3 spot is a toss up between these two legends.
For me Holmes is the most underrated ATG of all time, when I see the position he's listed at in some lists and the fighters that are above him it really is a complete disgrace.

[Ezzard]

top ten minimum, even if he did duck Greg Page.

Greg getting schooled by Trevor Berbick didn't make him look like a man Larry would have too much to worry about.

He looked to be getting back on track for a fight with Larry despite losing to Witherspoon, but the loss to Bey really removed any doubt of his place in the scheme of things.

Agreed.

[man]

at the top each matchup is close. holmes is IMO top5.
he is a less playfull version of muhammad ali. i always
loved his digging deep attitude. when someone had him
in trouble, he would come back right then.

there is only one thing about larry, that i do not like.
his cry baby attitude about not getting enough respect.
made him say things that do not fit with an otherwise kind
character. but of course that doesn't harm his legacy as
a prize fighter.

[Robinson]

So long as I am alive his legacy is safe :)