Larry Holmes: Appreciated

[oogiebe]

A poster on another board was dissing among other fighters, Larry Holmes. While the thread isn't worth mentioning here, it made me find a pretty cool video highlighting what I think is among the best left jab in HW boxing history. Enjoy.

[BoxBuzz]

Who was it that retrorocketed to the ground at 3:08 to 3:12? It's just as real as it can be, but if you look at it closely, I believe there are some that would question just how authentic that is. I'm not one of them, I know exactly what physics are taking place there. It's a great "anomaly", and demonstrates some odd physics.

[oogiebe]

Who was it that retrorocketed to the ground at 3:08 to 3:12? It's just as real as it can be, but if you look at it closely, I believe there are some that would question just how authentic that is. I'm not one of them, I know exactly what physics are taking place there. It's a great "anomaly", and demonstrates some odd physics.

I'm not certain but I want to say Mike Weaver. I love those types of 'reactions.' The brain makes the body do odd things now and then.

[tiny_acres]

Best jab in heavyweight history.

[oogiebe]

Best jab in heavyweight history.

It's up there. I also loved Liston's left. Jackhammer!

[tiny_acres]

Best jab in heavyweight history.

It's up there. I also loved Liston's left. Jackhammer!

Liston's was great. But Larry's is on another level all together

[oogiebe]

Best jab in heavyweight history.

It's up there. I also loved Liston's left. Jackhammer!

Liston's was great. But Larry's is on another level all together

No doubt. Holmes is the most underappreciated HW champ of all time imho. Best jab I've ever seen. A real weapon.

[sweetsci]

Who was it that retrorocketed to the ground at 3:08 to 3:12? It's just as real as it can be, but if you look at it closely, I believe there are some that would question just how authentic that is. I'm not one of them, I know exactly what physics are taking place there. It's a great "anomaly", and demonstrates some odd physics.

Ossie Ocasio

[oogiebe]

Who was it that retrorocketed to the ground at 3:08 to 3:12? It's just as real as it can be, but if you look at it closely, I believe there are some that would question just how authentic that is. I'm not one of them, I know exactly what physics are taking place there. It's a great "anomaly", and demonstrates some odd physics.

Ossie Ocasio

Thought that was Mike Weaver, actually. Ocasio was the one who got knocked down by the jab. I'll have to watch again.

[Jacopodb]

A poster on another board was dissing among other fighters, Larry Holmes. While the thread isn't worth mentioning here, it made me find a pretty cool video highlighting what I think is among the best left jab in HW boxing history. Enjoy.

Larry Holmes couldn't jump around like Alì, didn't have Lennox Lewis' one-two, was never as fast as prime Tyson, didn't have Joe Louis' right hand, didn't have Marciano's work-ethics (judging by how many times Holmes showed up for his fights with too much fat on him...), but man, did he have the most absolutely powerful jab I have ever seen in a boxer, of any weight-division... Even p4p...

Boy, forget Bruno's mean jab, Wladimir Klitschko's steady jab, Alì's flurry jab... Holmes' jab was a devastating force, I bet you won't find a more powerful jab in boxing history from ancient-Roman pugilatus era, until this very day.

[Controversial]

It annoys me when HWs can't jab, for me it was the easiest punch to throw yet so many fighters don't bother or just paw with it.

[Jacopodb]

It annoys me when HWs can't jab, for me it was the easiest punch to throw yet so many fighters don't bother or just paw with it.

I also relied on the jab a lot, despite being as much a less-than-mediocre, low-profile amateur as anyone can be...

But I reckoned soon that throwing a right hand (I'm obviously a right-handed), even lead, could get me caught dangerously off-balance... The jab, instead, could be thrown at any time (I was also technically an out-fighter), without losing any balance.

[oogiebe]

It annoys me when HWs can't jab, for me it was the easiest punch to throw yet so many fighters don't bother or just paw with it.

I also relied on the jab a lot, despite being as much a less-than-mediocre, low-profile amateur as anyone can be...

But I reckoned soon that throwing a right hand (I'm obviously a right-handed), even lead, could get me caught dangerously off-balance... The jab, instead, could be thrown at any time (I was also technically an out-fighter), without losing any balance.

...AND sets up everything else.

[Jacopodb]

It annoys me when HWs can't jab, for me it was the easiest punch to throw yet so many fighters don't bother or just paw with it.

I also relied on the jab a lot, despite being as much a less-than-mediocre, low-profile amateur as anyone can be...

But I reckoned soon that throwing a right hand (I'm obviously a right-handed), even lead, could get me caught dangerously off-balance... The jab, instead, could be thrown at any time (I was also technically an out-fighter), without losing any balance.

...AND sets up everything else.

Obvious.

I've never floored anyone in combat tho, I did it only once during sparring, but by then I realised I would have preferred to take a solid punch during sparring, than even risking to injure an agonist boxer.

So I was never floored, neither in sparring nor in combat, but I since I floored that guy during training, I've always avoided hitting hard in sparring.

[oogiebe]

I also relied on the jab a lot, despite being as much a less-than-mediocre, low-profile amateur as anyone can be...

But I reckoned soon that throwing a right hand (I'm obviously a right-handed), even lead, could get me caught dangerously off-balance... The jab, instead, could be thrown at any time (I was also technically an out-fighter), without losing any balance.

...AND sets up everything else.

Obvious.

I've never floored anyone in combat tho, I did it only once during sparring, but by then I realised I would have preferred to take a solid punch during sparring, that even risk to injure an agonist boxer.

So I was never floored, neither in sparring nor in combat, but I since I floored that guy during training, I've always avoided hitting hard in sparring.

obvious to you as you have been in the ring. Interesting little tidbit about your sparring and impact it had on you to floor someone. THanks for sharing!

[Jacopodb]

...AND sets up everything else.

Obvious.

I've never floored anyone in combat tho, I did it only once during sparring, but by then I realised I would have preferred to take a solid punch during sparring, that even risk to injure an agonist boxer.

So I was never floored, neither in sparring nor in combat, but I since I floored that guy during training, I've always avoided hitting hard in sparring.

obvious to you as you have been in the ring. Interesting little tidbit about your sparring and impact it had on you to floor someone. THanks for sharing!

Don't mention it, Oogie...

Kids might be watching and reading here (even grownup, pro fighters...), and I reckon that some of my own experience might deliver: as much as I never liked beating people down in sparring, I wouldn't like anyone to be beaten down during training...

[Jacopodb]

Here you go: the guy Holmes could deliver a savage beating, despite not always being at the top of his own reachable shape.

Earnie Shavers' attitude cracked me up, by the way...

Enjoy:

[Nile4000]

A great fighter with a great jab who refused to fight Greg Page or Pinklon Thomas, or rematch Tim Witherspoon or Carl Williams. 3 of those guys with very good jabs themselves.

[bigjack]

Most effective,hurtful jab in boxing history without a doubt,amazing chin too.

[Nile4000]

Not a chin like Cobb or Chuvalo however.

[bigjack]

Not a chin like Cobb or Chuvalo however.

No but still excellent.

[Tony1244]

Thanks for that.. Holmes was a great fighter. Great Jab. Anyone who disses his ability doesn't know boxing.

[Tony1244]

A great fighter with a great jab who refused to fight Greg Page or Pinklon Thomas, or rematch Tim Witherspoon or Carl Williams. 3 of those guys with very good jabs themselves.

Not saying those fights couldn't or shouldn't have happened. But if you check the record - all those guys lost to someone else during the timeframe a Holmes fight could have happened.

[Nile4000]

A great fighter with a great jab who refused to fight Greg Page or Pinklon Thomas, or rematch Tim Witherspoon or Carl Williams. 3 of those guys with very good jabs themselves.

Not saying those fights couldn't or shouldn't have happened. But if you check the record - all those guys lost to someone else during the timeframe a Holmes fight could have happened.

True, but during the later part of 1983, he fought Scott Frank and Marvis Frazier. Inexcusable.

[tiny_acres]

A great fighter with a great jab who refused to fight Greg Page or Pinklon Thomas, or rematch Tim Witherspoon or Carl Williams. 3 of those guys with very good jabs themselves.

Not saying those fights couldn't or shouldn't have happened. But if you check the record - all those guys lost to someone else during the timeframe a Holmes fight could have happened.

True, but during the later part of 1983, he fought Scott Frank and Marvis Frazier. Inexcusable.

Holmes started promoting himself at this time. He made good money and was a long term champ. He earned a couple of easy fights. He had 4 fights in 1983. An easy Scott Frank and he made 5 million facing Frazier
Give the guy a break