What's funny with Larry Holmes reign as champion...

[ykdadamaja]

Hey,

What's funny with Larry Holmes reign as champion was that he NEVER fought for the WBA Championship, even though he very well could have beaten every WBA Chumpion of that era?

Let's take a look at this:
Larry Holmes reign as Champion (WBC and Ring and IBF) from 09/06/1978 to 21/09/1985. But, the guys who held the WBA Chumpionship of the time were:
Muhammad Ali (3) October 30, 1974 — February 15, 1978
Leon Spinks February 15, 1978 — September 15, 1978
Muhammad Ali (4) September 15, 1978 — October 18, 1979
John Tate October 20, 1979 — March 31, 1980
Mike Weaver March 31, 1980 — December 10, 1982
Michael Dokes December 10, 1982 — September 23, 1983
Gerrie Coetzee September 23, 1983 — December 1, 1984
Greg Page December 1, 1984 — April 29, 1985
Tony Tubbs April 29, 1985 — January 17, 1986

Holmes had beaten Ali and Weaver during his reign. If I extended the list post Tony Tubbs to 1987 and put up:
Tim Witherspoon January 17, 1986 — December 12, 1986
James Smith December 12, 1986 — March 7, 1987

These are two guys that Holmes beat already, so why is it that the WBA slighted Holmes? You mean to tell me that Holmes wasn't worthy of fighting Cotzee, Page, Tubbs, Dokes, Spinks (Leon) and Tate? LOLOLOL....

I think boxing writers and boxing analysts missed a prime opportunity to nip the first ergregious signs of boxing politics.

[ray corso]

When has opposing federations invited other federations champions to win their belts? The federations are working with specific promoters and between them protect their champion.This isn't about fair play and whose the best its about Mine Mine Mine!!! Ray

[Master]

The answer to the question is probably Don King, Holmes was the best at the weight and he proved it by his longevity and title defences when the other so called champions lost their titles to opponents, drugs politics and laziness.

[ykdadamaja]

The answer to the question is probably Don King, Holmes was the best at the weight and he proved it by his longevity and title defences when the other so called champions lost their titles to opponents, drugs politics and laziness.

Holmes finished off the dead weight from the late 60's and early 70's, and taught a lesson to the new kids who tried to own the early and mid 80's- all at the same time creaming guys who were peaking. DESTROYED THEM, never to return!!!

His reign was distinctive. In many respects, better than Louis, Marciano, Ali, Tyson, Lennox or Wlad's reign. He is right when he says he doesn't get his just due, because they didn't give him his just due. Perhaps it was too soon after Ali... Ali's flash and braggadocio? Perhaps it was because he didn't have bone-crushing ko power?

Holmes was thee most SKILLED HW Champion EVER.... better than Ali and certainly better than Wlad. The only HW champion that came close to his skill is Lennox, technically speaking. But Lennox is a far second place in my mind...

[TitoFan]

Larry Holmes is a whining, bitter old man. He came along after Ali, which is no one's fault. "Accept it and move on, old man". He was disgracefully disrespectful to the great Rocky Marciano's memory, while the guy was already dead and not around to defend himself. He (Larry) was always bitching and moaning about not being given his just due 'cause he was black. Like there hadn't been a basket-full of black fighters before him that had gotten their due.

Larry Holmes beat a bunch of nobodies. He lost twice to Michael Spinks....... Michael "Fucking" Spinks!!! Tyson knocked him senseless when he (Larry) had just turned 39, a child by today's standards. Holmes fought on for 14 more years. "Over-the-hill" my ass!!! Tyson crushed him.... and I became an instant fan, 'cause I had been waiting for someone to shut that obnoxious mouth for years. Larry and his man-boobs are revered in boxing, because he's thought of being some kind of boxing god. He had one mega-fight with Gerry Cooney..... an overblown affair because Cooney was "the next great white hope." When in actuality, Cooney was nothing more than a big dolt with a big left hook.

Larry Holmes is one of my 5 most hated boxers of all time.

[brocktonblockbust]

Larry Holmes was 1 of the best heavyweights of all time. Definitely Top 10. Not Top 5 though. I place Larry about at #7 after Rocky, Cassius, Louis, Johnson, Holyfield, Lewis. I think only those 6 guys could really beat Larry. I say 1990 Holyfield outhustles and out-dogs Holmes---Evander was quicker and had a slightly better chin. Also prime Lennox woulda been real tough for Larry. Larry struggled with Cooney, so imagine with Lennox.

After that, I dont see anybody else beating him. He would whip Bowe, smoke Liston, whip Frazier (Larry only had a weakness for that right hand, he was never rocked by left hooks that I can remember), and yes he struggled with an old Norton, but remember Norton had that style to harrass guys like Ali and Holmes who fought backing up and countering for the most part. Norton was a counter-punching master, so had the perfect style for ali and Holmes.

I think Marciano smokes Norton in about 4 rounds.

Larry Holmes was a tough son of a bitch. Tougher than you realize. Competition may have been less-than-perfect---but do not short-change guys like Mike Weaver, Tim Witherspoon, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, Ken Norton, Carl Williams---these were dogged and dtermined fighters, big strong guys with plenty of KOs, and Larry had to dig deep to beat them.

Larry Holmes could take just about any punch he got hit with, just like Ali. What a chin Larry had. I have often said Holmes' chin was one of his best weapons. And heart. He refused to lose, out on his feet plenty of times, and boy did he suck it up, dig down deep, and dog it out. He was like a dog. Great fighter IMO. #7 All-Time Great Heavy.

Who whips Holmes besides the Top 6 I listed above? I dare you to say.

[Beanz]

The answer to the question is probably Don King, Holmes was the best at the weight and he proved it by his longevity and title defences when the other so called champions lost their titles to opponents, drugs politics and laziness.

Holmes finished off the dead weight from the late 60's and early 70's, and taught a lesson to the new kids who tried to own the early and mid 80's- all at the same time creaming guys who were peaking. DESTROYED THEM, never to return!!!

His reign was distinctive. In many respects, better than Louis, Marciano, Ali, Tyson, Lennox or Wlad's reign. He is right when he says he doesn't get his just due, because they didn't give him his just due. Perhaps it was too soon after Ali... Ali's flash and braggadocio? Perhaps it was because he didn't have bone-crushing ko power?

Holmes was thee most SKILLED HW Champion EVER.... better than Ali and certainly better than Wlad. The only HW champion that came close to his skill is Lennox, technically speaking. But Lennox is a far second place in my mind...

Seriously ? No disrespect but a statement like that makes one think maybe your objectivity is obscured by his butt cheeks.

[ykdadamaja]

The answer to the question is probably Don King, Holmes was the best at the weight and he proved it by his longevity and title defences when the other so called champions lost their titles to opponents, drugs politics and laziness.

Holmes finished off the dead weight from the late 60's and early 70's, and taught a lesson to the new kids who tried to own the early and mid 80's- all at the same time creaming guys who were peaking. DESTROYED THEM, never to return!!!

His reign was distinctive. In many respects, better than Louis, Marciano, Ali, Tyson, Lennox or Wlad's reign. He is right when he says he doesn't get his just due, because they didn't give him his just due. Perhaps it was too soon after Ali... Ali's flash and braggadocio? Perhaps it was because he didn't have bone-crushing ko power?

Holmes was thee most SKILLED HW Champion EVER.... better than Ali and certainly better than Wlad. The only HW champion that came close to his skill is Lennox, technically speaking. But Lennox is a far second place in my mind...

Seriously ? No disrespect but a statement like that makes one think maybe your objectivity is obscured by his butt cheeks.

As far as stand up jab, right hand, left and right hooks, Holmes was thee most technically sound HW Champion.