Holmes would win a clear decision...since Foreman hadn't gotten back his self-confidence by that point. It would be dangerous for Holmes early though. 1973 version of Foreman destroys Holmes eventually though IMO...although Larry gives him quite the argument before that happens.
Holmes would still be a very tough fight for a 1973 Foreman. I think Foreman might get him eventually, though.
Very hairy early, all-even after 6, Holmes probably stops him over 15 or wins a decision over 10 or 12. I don't know if Holmes survives a younger George though in a MM. Without rope-a-dope would Ali have?:scratcher:
hard to say... I think young Ali wins over George but at the age he was in '74, he needed to be able to rest those legs... so the rope-a-dope was a necessity, I agree. Larry, say 1979 versus Foreman circa 1973? Holmes had incredible resiliency... I cant see him going out like Norton did... Frazier got up 6 times, but he had no plan B, he had to come forward, had to engage in order to be Joe Frazier... Larry could stick and move, get out of the phone booth I think the key here, as I'm sure oyu already know, revolves around what conidition Larry is in after 4 or 5 rounds... We know he will be hurt and tested and very possibly floored once or twice early... this is inevitable, because this is George Foreman we are talking about here... now, is Larry going to be in sufficient shape to work his particular brand of magic as Foreman tires and has to pace himself? That is what I am not sure of... I think that if Larry can recuperate sufficiently, he could start to rally and he could be in command by the late rounds, scoring a possible knockdown of his own en route to a decision... but he has to survive that early going... I don't know for certian if he could, but if I was going to give anyone other than Ali a chance at doing something like that, Holmes would be right up there on the list, the guy was a survivor
I've never been sure how a prime Ali fares with George since Im not sure it's even possible to box that young, intense George from the outside. The way George cut off the ring at his best was every bit as impressive to me as Ali's footspeed. An all time great attribute. It's a fight that might be decided by the size of the ring or on whether Ali can hurt George early. Similar story with Holmes, though with Larry having even less chance of staying away.
You should've just made it a straight prime fight :: I'm not sure, really. A lot of people will tell you Young did it in '77, & Holmes would do it. Gotta take into account Young had been in with much sterner opposition than Holmes had by 1977. Holmes hadn't really fought anyone, sans Williams, who was still a long way short of Foreman. It's a close fight. Foreman was clearly not the same force in '77, IMO, he had been a few years earlier, but this wasn't the same, composed Holmes who picked apart the contenders of the late-70's & first-half of the 80's.
Agree it's hard to say whether Holmes would survive being hurt by Foreman at his monstrous peak. On the one hand, Holmes really did have rather impressive recuperative powers, & he was a smart, fairly manouvreable fighter. On the other hand? He could be found standing his ground & duking it out if his pride was dented, & though Holmes' fans don't like to admit it, he never faced a top-notch finisher until Tyson (by which point, little could be gleaned as to how Holmes would fare against one).
