Wladimir Klitschko v Larry Holmes in all-time HW rankings

[KBB]

Your logic fails in explaining that Larry Holmes was far smaller than Gerry Cooney and look what he was able to do to him

I wouldn't personally pick Klitschko to beat Larry Holmes. But in fairness to the other guy, he clearly made this statement "Good bigger fighter beats equally good smaller fighter." While Gerry Cooney and Wladimir Klitschko both shared the commonality of being significantly larger than Holmes, I think the similarities end there. Klitschko was a much more sound boxer with better stamina, mental fortitude, superior conditioning, and survival skills. For whatever its worth he also had a few more pounds and possibly a little more strength than Cooney. I still wouldn't favor him over Larry, but I don't think Cooney is an appropriate comparison of A Good big fighter taking on a good small fighter, whereas Wladimir vs Larry would be a better example.

It was an example, nothing more, nothing less. He claims that big fighters beat equally small fighters, well I could pull many more examples and still I will have proved him wrong.

Tyson was one of the smallest HWs, look how many people he beat, Spinks moved up from LHW, look how many he beat, Holyfield, etc., etc.

His theory proved nothing.

[drunkenpiper36]

="KBB"] He claims that big fighters beat equally small fighters

When the playing fields are mostly even, with size being the only thing setting them apart, I usually agree.

Tyson was one of the smallest HWs, look how many people he beat, Spinks moved up from LHW, look how many he beat, Holyfield, etc., etc.

Spinks struggled life and death with the only good heavyweight he defeated above 200 lbs. That one man was 36 years of age and arguably deserved one of those decisions. The size difference between the two of them wasn't all that drastic either. Holyfield faired well against big men, but at times the size of his opponent made a difference ( see Riddick Bowe. ) Tyson wasn't exactly fighting prime ATG's who matched him in ability.

[wvboxer]

I think Wlad is a tough fight for any heavyweight because of his size & the fact he knows how to use it. Do I enjoy watching him fight? Not really. I usually doze off. The guy would stand a chance of beating every great heavyweight & believe me it pains me to say that. He's just too big. He's skilled but his size is main factor here.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

I personally think Wladimir would have belonged in any era. I do not think he is as skillful as Larry and I do think he gets away with a lot in the fights..clinching, leaning etc . But you have to major in his all - round athletic ability, size and weight..and power.

I do think that Larry fought in a tougher era..his fight with Cooney would perhaps be a small insight into their match if they had fought. Cooney being around 6ft 6 and 230 lbs. He was as hard a hitter as Wlad though didnt fight in the same style.

Larry may well have been one of the very few who could have coped with Wlad but I see a late stoppage here for Larry.

I feel Tim Witherspoon who fought Larry would have beaten Wlad also ; tough, quick, smart, big, skilled..he had it all. That answers that question.

No I do not envisage Wlad losing to Michael Spinks but as someone said I do not see Larry losing to Any of Wlads opponents either.

Hard to argue with any of this.

HOLMES SURELY PAST HIS BEST IN THE MICHAEL SPINKS FIGHT'S.

[man]

Holmes.

Maybe Wladimir gets there, but the competition was just so much better in Holmes's day. Not Wlad's fault, but it is what it is. Klitschko votes are speculative IMO.

i can live with "better", not sure about "much",
but "so" is definitely a stretch.

[tiny_acres]

Holmes.

Maybe Wladimir gets there, but the competition was just so much better in Holmes's day. Not Wlad's fault, but it is what it is. Klitschko votes are speculative IMO.

i can live with "better", not sure about "much",
but "so" is definitely a stretch.

I have to agree with JCS.The competition in Holmes day was far superior.
But the up and coming heavies we are seeing develop now should liven up the division.

[JeanClaude Van Damme]

I'm so glad this forum exists.

I just read an article on Wlad where the comments section used Facebook. One of the guys said HW's today are so much better because Ali was "knocked down" by Chuck Wepner.

[tiny_acres]

I'm so glad this forum exists.

I just read an article on Wlad where the comments section used Facebook. One of the guys said HW's today are so much better because Ali was "knocked down" by Chuck Wepner.

yeah some comments on Facebook are enough to drive you to drink.

[thunderfromdownunder]

I don't think its inconceivable to rate Vladimir over Holmes in a overall atg standings. Based on longevity and what not. But head to head I favor Larry 9 times outta 10

[Cap]

Holmes vs Klitschko! Wow. Talk about an exciting matchu........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

[p4p1]

Interesting post, but the situation is somewhat different for Pac and Bradley. Both are ripped weighing in at welterweight, Bradley even more so because he has to drain more to make the 147lb limit. In this pic, Bradley clearly has the bigger arms, but Pacquiao has bigger legs which are not visible. I'd imagine that Bradley weighed more on fight night, he's definitely the naturally bigger, heavier guy, but perhaps not by as much as some might imagine. Manny was only able to fight in such low weight classes because he was malnourished as a youth, which explains how he continued to pile on weight and climb divisions without looking overly muscle-bound - I'd say at this point he's a natural light welterweight.

This picture is completely useless when discussing size, all weigh in pictures are unless we are talking heavyweight. When fighters cut water it comes from muscles and others parts of the body they get smaller. Bradley comes into the ring a fair bit heavier than pacquiao and cuts more to make 147 than Pac. Therefor he will look roughly the same size at the weigh in but come fight night when he was heavier he would look bigger than he did at the weigh in. There is actually an article online somewhere where a guy cut weight took all measurement rehydrated and took them again and there was a decent difference.

[p4p1]

havid fuckin haye beats ali?????? retard

Mate I'm a massive Ali fan but the guy that fought Holmes loses to a lot of a former champs. He was horrible that night suffering from early stages of Parkinson's. He just had nothing isn't he tank at that stage of his career.

[drunkenpiper36]

havid fuckin haye beats ali?????? retard

Mate I'm a massive Ali fan but the guy that fought Holmes loses to a lot of a former champs. He was horrible that night suffering from early stages of Parkinson's. He just had nothing isn't he tank at that stage of his career.

Agreed.

As much as I hate to say it, I think most of the heavyweight top 10 in 1980 would have beaten THAT version of Ali, and that probably includes guys like Marty Monroe, Leroy Jones and maybe even Tex Cobb. Ali had nothing left.

[pound per pound]

Holmes.

Maybe Wladimir gets there, but the competition was just so much better in Holmes's day. Not Wlad's fault, but it is what it is. Klitschko votes are speculative IMO.

So much better? Outside of Witherspoon and Norton, I would say its about even.