Larry Holmes Jab

[LacedUp]

Not to mention that Tim Witherspoon deserved a rematch with Holmes.

Was that Holmes decision though?

[Scott9945]

Was that Holmes decision though?

Haven't seen that fight in at least 30 years, tbh. Holmes probably squeaked it out. But Witherspoon had only 15 fights then and hadn't reached his peak. He certainly was more deserving of a title shot than Holmes next two unqualified opponents, Scott Frank and Marvis Frazier.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Haven't seen that fight in at least 30 years, tbh. Holmes probably squeaked it out. But Witherspoon had only 15 fights then and hadn't reached his peak. He certainly was more deserving of a title shot than Holmes next two unqualified opponents, Scott Frank and Marvis Frazier.

Witherspoon in my mind is one of the biggest "what if" guys in history..

The guy had serious talent and skills but never reached full potential or success

[beez721]

Not to mention that Tim Witherspoon deserved a rematch with Holmes.

carl the truth williams also desrved one. that fight was very very close

[Scott9945]

carl the truth williams also desrved one. that fight was very very close

True. Mike Weaver gave Holmes a very tough fight too.

[The Old LefHook]

Holmes always stayed away from the really big guns in the heavyweight division. In addition, he could have started competing at high level long before he did. He stayed out to let the good fighters retire or grow old. Facts are facts.

His big problem as a fighter was that he just thought he was such a tiger. Still, he was a pretty tough guy who almost makes the top ten, maybe even slides in at #10. Let's face it, the man had no punch, and he was without the speed of Ali to compensate for that. No punch is what you expect from a man with a sunken chest. In his era the heavyweight division (which receives so many accolades from people stranded in time) was already beginning to slip badly. The golden age of the division was before Holmes, not during his tenure.

But this is about jabs, and he had a great one.

Cooney was a nobody, a one-handed fighter, and he is at the top of Holmes' ledger in terms of quality. Shavers, etc. were never championship material but would have made good contenders in any era. He faced no great fighters in their primes, or even close to it.

In the end, legacy always comes down to who you fought and when you fought them. Holmes is not the last to forget this.

[sonnyboyx2]

Holmes always stayed away from the really big guns in the heavyweight division. In addition, he could have started competing at high level long before he did. He stayed out to let the good fighters retire or grow old. Facts are facts.

His big problem as a fighter was that he just thought he was such a tiger. Still, he was a pretty tough guy who almost makes the top ten, maybe even slides in at #10. Let's face it, the man had no punch, and he was without the speed of Ali to compensate for that. No punch is what you expect from a man with a sunken chest. In his era the heavyweight division (which receives so many accolades from people stranded in time) was already beginning to slip badly. The golden age of the division was before Holmes, not during his tenure.

But this is about jabs, and he had a great one.

Cooney was a nobody, a one-handed fighter, and he is at the top of Holmes' ledger in terms of quality. Shavers, etc. were never championship material but would have made good contenders in any era. He faced no great fighters in their primes, or even close to it.

In the end, legacy always comes down to who you fought and when you fought them. Holmes is not the last to forget this.

I agree with a lot of what you say here. Holmes was rocked and on ***** street against Tiger Williams & Ibar Arrington. He was thought of as far too "chinny" to be a champion. Which is why he was the underdog against Norton.

[Dynamite76]

Larry had his faults, and he did probably duck at least 7 good fighters/contenders during his time.But the man had a great jab, that is undeniable.However, it would have been interesting if he fought someone with a real good jab and skills like Greg Page, and Pinklon Thomas during his IBF reign.Chances are, he's coming out with a loss.

[Anthony342]

Not to mention that Tim Witherspoon deserved a rematch with Holmes.

So why would he duck these guys if he was so intent on legacy and the respect of boxing fans and experts? Sounds like that's more his fault than anyone else's then.

[LacedUp]

Larry had his faults, and he did probably duck at least 7 good fighters/contenders during his time.But the man had a great jab, that is undeniable.However, it would have been interesting if he fought someone with a real good jab and skills like Greg Page, and Pinklon Thomas during his IBF reign.Chances are, he's coming out with a loss.

I think Holmes would have beaten both Page and Thomas.

I think he would have had more trouble with Witherspoon in a rematch.