Top Ten Heavyweights of All Time

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Originally Posted by Master

I agree Larry Holmes would have had tough fights against Lennox Lewis and prime Bowe but had the heart to win and pull through. Holmes would certainly not get knocked out by McCall and Rahman. Larry had an incredible chin.

Larry did fight better opponents than Cooney. Winning the title against Norton was the most impressive. He beat young versions of future champs Berbick, Witherspoon, Bonecrusher, and got up from tough fights against Shavers and Snipes.

Holmes also suffered from coming after Ali and beating the old Muhammad. He did not help himself with his attitude and personality but I liked him for speaking his truth. It was Don King and Cooney promoters that really raised the race card to sell their fight.

Holmes really beat Spinks especially the second time.

Holmes mentality was to win and he went against King, governing bodies and Ali legacy and still achieved everything he did.

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Hard to argue with some of your points, as much as I dislike the guy. The win against Norton WAS impressive... and on top of that was an instant classic. Down to the wire. Another good point is his chin. He got tagged good on more than one occasion, and hung in there. About Rahman not knocking him out, I kind of agree. But I don't hold that against Lewis. Anyone can have a bad day, and Lennox certainly had one against Rahman the first time around. He avenged it, though. McCall, IMO... is another story. I think there would've been a fair chance of Oliver knocking Holmes out. He was that powerful.

You mention Shavers and Snipes. Shavers was totally shopworn when he fought Holmes. But to his credit, Holmes did survive some heavy punches. Snipes? I never rated him much. A prime Bowe or a Lewis would've swept the floor with Renaldo Snipes.

Holmes certainly earned his way to these lists. It's just that I can always find 10 other heavyweights who I personally rate higher than him. I think he rode his jab hard, because the rest of his arsenal was average.

kenny norton gets so underrated because of the george & earnie losses

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Originally Posted by TIC

kenny norton gets so underrated because of the george & earnie losses

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True, and arguably went 2-1 over Ali. Even Ali told us that. Meanwhile Shavers suffers 3 ko losses within the next 12+ months. Just the strange way boxing moves.

could argue three zip for kenny. he gets those decisions & the nod over larry & he's looked at in a whole different light