BoxRec

I would like to say happy birthday to the former WBC and IBF Heavyweight Champion the man who should have unified every heavyweight title, the man who has one of the best jabs in the business, "The Easton Assassin" Larry Holmes who turns 57 today.

Happy Birthday champ. Holmes might be in the top 100 HWs if he was still fighting right now!

He could probably be in the top 20 or 30 if he got himself in decent shape... I'd pick him over the likes of Danny Williams etc........

Holmes is the most underrated of the great heavyweights imo... I think at his best only Ali, and Johnson would have been real threats to him...

Larry was a great, great fighter. Shame he was really unappreciated when he was at his best. Holmes had the best recouperative powers & the best jab in HW history.

Larry had such a array of punches, moves etc in his arsenal. At his peak, he was a fomidable force. Who has read his autobiography? It's a great read!

Happy birthday Larry!

silkov wrote:Holmes is the most underrated of the great heavyweights imo... I think at his best only Ali, and Johnson would have been real threats to him...

and Louis

..c'mon you were itching for someone to say that.

Time to break out the ol' Holmes/Norton tape ... happy birthday, champ.

Ezzard wrote:

silkov wrote:Holmes is the most underrated of the great heavyweights imo... I think at his best only Ali, and Johnson would have been real threats to him...

and Louis

..c'mon you were itching for someone to say that.

I was expecting it but to be honest I think Holmes would be too fast and skillful for Louis... if Conn can almost outbox and beat a prime Louis than Holmes definately would imo... as would Ali and Johnson... 8)

works the other way though,if mike weaver can have larrys legs turn to jelly then louis could definitely take him out.

And I'm not sure I agree that Holmes was faster, or quicker than Conn. Holmes was truly an ATG - I’ve got him 3rd all-time in my ratings – but he was not faster than Billy Conn.

dalek wrote:works the other way though,if mike weaver can have larrys legs turn to jelly then louis could definitely take him out.

you're saying Louis hit harder than Weaver, which is highly debatable. Weaver may not have been the greatest boxer ever, but if he hit you flush, you were lucky if your legs just wobbled.

dalek wrote:works the other way though,if mike weaver can have larrys legs turn to jelly then louis could definitely take him out.

Holmes had flu when he fought Weaver, and besides Weaver was bigger and more powerful than Louis...

You have to also say that if Braddock can floor Louis and Schmeling ko him I'd bet on Holmes stopping Louis late... Holmes had underrated power in his right...

fair enough but if light punching renaldo snipes can have larry almost gone i wonder what a great finisher like louis would have done.

dalek wrote:fair enough but if light punching renaldo snipes can have larry almost gone i wonder what a great finisher like louis would have done.

Snipes a light puncher???.... I don't think so mate!!... 8)

he was hardly a devastating ko artist. 8)

silkov wrote:Holmes is the most underrated of the great heavyweights imo... I think at his best only Ali, and Johnson would have been real threats to him...

at his best, mike weaver, ken norton(dead even), tim witherspoon(dead even fight), and renaldo snipes were big threats to him.

I was expecting it but to be honest I think Holmes would be too fast and skillful for Louis... if Conn can almost outbox and beat a prime Louis than Holmes definately would imo..

using ur logic.......


if norton, witherspoon can almost beat a prime holmes.......then joe louis defintley would.


holmes had loads of trouble with counterpunchers with great right hands........joe louis fits this description.

silkov wrote:

dalek wrote:fair enough but if light punching renaldo snipes can have larry almost gone i wonder what a great finisher like louis would have done.

Snipes a light puncher???.... I don't think so mate!!... 8)

he certainly wasnt a big puncher!