Top 5 Heavyweight Handspeed all time!!

Agreed.

 

He showed his hand speed again Holmes IMO

cupey

 

Ken Norton is a top 5 handspeed guy? That's what you're telling me? Ken Norton?

 

Actually Cupey...I see what you mean. Check out his blazing handspeed in this clip...his punches are a mere blur:
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Norton's power is sometimes a bit under-appreciated, but I would not say his handspeed was exceptional --- certainly, it was not top-5 material in division history.

 

You didn't look at the video....:nono::nono::nono::nono:

 

I did ::

Have seen the fight many times before, however.

 

Norton was (relatively speaking) slow as molasses. I don't know how he even entered this discussion...::

 

I agree his handspeed isn't in the mix when you talk about the best in division history. Not close.

 

look at those quick 1-2s of Norton. Even a few quick 3-punch combination and it's the 15th fucking round. Lets see if any heavyweight that you mentioned that throw those punches at that speed after going 14-rounds with holmes. Fuck all horse, you don't know shit

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Oh yes, that veritable destroyer and breaker of mere mortals. Killer of Spirit, Douser of Handspeed, Larry Holmes.:laugh11::laugh11:

 

Larry Holmes is the most underrated heavyweight champion in history.

Cupey

 

Gotta hand it to those two for putting on such a memorable show, though. Considering neither man was really at 100% (Norton was on the slide, & Holmes came in injured), it was a fantastic, fantastic stoush.

I didn't think it was quite as close as history has it. Wound up scoring it 9-6 for Holmes a few years ago. Thought Norton just gave away too many of the early rounds. There were a whole heap of them Holmes swept, but credit to Norton, he really, really came on late. The last round featured some classic exchanges.

 

That may've been true (or arguable) once, but I think there's been a very significant shift in regards to his place in history amongst fans in general over the past ten years or so. Very big.

I don't think Holmes is really under-rated at all anymore. You'd be very hard-pressed to find a top-10 list which doesn't feature him, & considering it's perfectly reasonable for someone to leave him out of their top-5, that doesn't seem unfair.

 

I agree, there has been some change. But certainly people belittle this dudes skills in just how good he really was.

Carlos

 

It's been known to happen. I think his skills were pretty sublime, being honest. There hasn't been a HW since him I would favour to beat him on his best night --- not the Klitschkos, not Lewis, not Bowe, not Holyfield, not Tyson.

If I were going after Holmes, it would be in regards to his resume --- people usually acknowledge it wasn't great, but there are more holes there than are usually discussed.

 

Fine....but even Vitali would look fast throwing 1-2's at Larry.

 

Which brother would give Holmes the harder night, Irish?

I say junior in this instance, but then, it's no secret I rate him the better of the two siblings.

 

Vitali. He's tougher. The finesse wouldn't be necessary. If Cooney had been fitter he would have gone the 15 easy. Vitali knows how to throw damaging arm punches and be awkward. Wladimir would sweep the first 2 or 3 rounds, then start getting tired. Most people aren't knocking Holmes out, at least a prime Holmes, so it is a question of lasting and being effective, and that's a Vitali trait.

 

Agree that junior's endurance would be a problem for him (& also, you're probably right that Cooney blew out more than anything in succumbing), but I feel big bro's offensive style would be a dream for Holmes to counter.

 

But Vitali is a counter puncher himself.

On-Topic, of all the 240+ heavies there have been, Vitali has, for me, very fast hands.

 

You can be anything you want to be against Klitschko's level of competition --- they are literally that underwhelming.

Klitschko is a smart fighter & smarter man. He would know better than to try & counter-punch his way to victory against Holmes.

 

As much as I disliked Holmes at the time, I now realize how great a fighter he was. His competition was lackluster to a degree,...but he beat better fighters than today's heavyweights

 

He was at one point...he isn't anymore.

Mike Tyson is currently the most underrated Heavyweight i history. People forget how good he was. I mean I even hear some people say that Joe Frazier was better...that's how bad it is now.

 

Everyone beat better fighters than today's Heavyweights.

 

No.

 

Buster Mathis Sr.

Leroy Jones had fast hands, he just wasn't that good.