Yes, Muhammad Ali danced circles around him. But he's the ONLY Heavyweight that I feel could really do that Liston, it was Ali's speed - NO Heavyweight had speed like Ali. Not even Holmes.
1. Liston had the hardest jab of all time. He was knocking people out with his jab, George Foreman said that his jab was the hardest he's EVER felt. His jab was that of a left-hook, some argue. And he could fire it at will.
2. Liston could hit as hard as George Foreman and didn't tire out. That's right, his power was comparable to George Foreman. He'd probably beat Foreman, but his power was a little bit below Foreman's. Yet Liston was a full on 15 round fighter, Holmes was the last of the great 15 round fighters. But Liston could bang in the late rounds too, with the same amount of power he'd have in the early rounds.
3. Liston could change styles. And at will too - at times he'd become a slugger (ie: Floyd Patterson fight) and others a Boxer-Puncher. He could box with his jab and set up his shots, but at times just slug at will, and succeed.
4. Liston could box on the outside with his jab and 1-2's. He could hurt you just as much on the outside than the inside.
5. He'd fight you inside. He was the inside fighter's NIGHTMARE, very much like facing George Foreman on the inside.
6. Underrated set-ups. Many of his KO's were set up from his powerful and snapping jab, coupled with perfect timing, Liston was underrated in the way he set punches up.
Ken Norton IMO beat a prime Larry Holmes.
Your 5 points on Holmes are all correct except for the first one.
Holmes had a great jab but Ali arguably had a better jab & Liston, Wladimir & Joe Louis had a harder jab.
Joe Louis was also an expert at setting up punches with his jab, better so than Holmes.
I usually have Larry Holmes around fourth or fifth all time behind Ali, Louis, Johnson and Foreman. People like Frazier, Marciano, Liston, Dempsey and Holyfield usually round out my top ten, and few if anyone in history could have handled Ali or Louis in their primes. Larry would have held his own with anyone in history, but a heavyweight fight could end at any time with one punch so it's hard to say.
i think a prime ali is too mobile for any heavyweight to deal with and takes them all apart dancin circles around them with his jab and frustrating them until they make mistakes which he makes them pay for.
ali would outland holmes from the get go and win a UD.
liston would find his way in easier than shavers and would be able to land with his power alot more.he would knock holmes down in the later rounds before the fight is stopped
maybe louis would beat him aswell but i'm not too sure how that would play out
The 48-0 is great but his era was weaker, then Ali's, and besides Marciano finished 49-0, if we used that stat. He was great, but when people say prime's I think Ali did everything better, then Holmes, and he fought tougher competition.
i'm a massive holmes fan and i rate him as good as any heavy weight ever ,i would pick a 30 year old holmes over a 30 year old Ali and i think he would give and heavy weight ever a hard night .
all heavy weights other than ali maybe lewis has a fighter that you would say would beat them ,but i would put holmes in that bracket of fighter.
Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes in their primes. Even money. Sit back and enjoy the show.
it was joe louis or ali hard to beat in there primes
I think if u were to make a HW battle royal and have the top 16 HW fight each other, I believe Holmes would won that tournament and heres why:
1-Greatest jab ever: he shoots that jab for the waist while keeping his waist making optimal impact. If u dont master distance like Holmes did, u cant throw that type of jab that Holmes or Hearns threw. It both controlled distance and was a damaging punch
2-Ability to box from the outside, Holmes was a sharpshooter and that style would trouble the likes of Frazier, Patterson, Marciano who fought at mid-range or inside
3-Ability to fight on the inside, there are some great jabbers in HW boxing like Lewis, Ali, Wlad but neither could fight on the inside once the distance was closed, rather they immediately clinch. Holmes can close the distance and beat them at their weakest point
4-Underrated footwork, The other HWs who could fight on outside and inside, Liston and Bowe, didnt have the footwork Holmes had, therefore he could outbox them from distance
5-The things u cant teach: heart, speed, reach , chin. U never seen Ali outboxed or Maricano outbox outslugged during their prime. But you'v seen Ali outslugged and Marciano outbox (Walcott, Charles)but you've never seen prime Holmes outboxed or outslugged cause he did it all
I want to hear ur pro or counter argument
