Quote Originally Posted by Britkid
Holmes was an excellent fighter, but never could quite get out of the Ali shadow...

Peaked in 78 though 80, thus he was not a worldwide household name when he was at his best IMO.

But the fight with Cooney showed he deserved an all-time top 10 ranking at Heavyweight. And the likes of the Norton, Shavers, Snipes, Whitherspoon and Mercer fights showed he often found ways to win, when it looked like he was on a loser.

Sadly the Marciano number was not to be, but at least he lost to a mighty fine fighter in Spinks.
I don't think the Cooney fight shows anything--Cooney was a mediocre fighter who was seriously overhyped because of his skin color. IMO, wins over Norton, Shavers and Mercer are what give Holmes his credibility.