Hi Mark. Great question!
First off, let's look at the punchers these two fought. Muhammad Ali has been up against Sonny Liston, Cleveland Williams, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Earnie Shavers. Larry Holmes has been up against Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, and Mike Tyson.
Ali was a defensive mastermind, and never got hit very cleanly to the head by George Foreman. He barely got hit at all by Sonny Liston or Cleveland Williams. He was rocked by Earnie Shavers, and took the best shots of Joe Frazier in three fights, knocking Ali down once.
Larry Holmes took a huge shot to the chin by Earnie Shavers getting knocked down and almost out, but surprisingly got up and won. He also got knocked out by Mike Tyson.
I'll take Ali having the better chin. If Liston, Williams, or Foreman connected with a clean shot to the head, he could have gotten knocked down. I think Ali could take the best shots of Mike Tyson. Holmes does have a very good chin, but Ali has one of the best chins in heavyweight history, probably only behind guys like Holyfield, Chuvalo, etc.
I would give Ali the nod on this one. He fought much harder punchers generally. I would say Foreman, Shavers, Frazier, Liston and Cleveland Williams have the advantage over Cooney, Tyson and he also fought Shavers twice. They both had very good recuperative powers. Ali got up and was fighting back in the knock down against Frazier and Holmes went on to defeat Shavers. I think Ali in his prime was just a little better than Holmes. The reasons are as follows speed, speed, speed and better opposition.
Before Holmes fought and beat the likes of Ernie Shavers and Kenny Norton, Ali did it first and at the stronger primes of both fighters. Holmes never fought the likes of Liston, Frazier and Lyle and Foreman, Ali did three times against Frazier as he did also against Norton. Ali was knocked down only twice in his career and was stopped only once by Holmes ( in his failed comeback ) but was never knocked out.
Holmes was knocked out cold by Mike Tyson. Ali despite being the more defensive fighter had been in more challenging situations that tested his courage, will, determination and staying power than Holmes.
I would say, Ali!
Larry Holmes was the epitome of a strong chin & recuperative powers.
Ali was too defensive to get tagged - So wasn't really tested (Yeah I know.. Foreman, Fraizer ..etc)
Muhammad Ali did but Holmes was close.
Ali. We saw that in the first Cooper fight, the first Liston fight, the third Frazier fight and against Earnie Shavers.
and who had the better recuperative powers?
