[Jersey-Jim]

Larry Holmes co-wrote a great autobiography with the late Mitch Berger. If you read the book, you'll come away with an all new appreciation for Larry Holmes. When he started giving Ali too much trouble in his training camp (circa 1974), Ali wanted him out of there.

Holmes had a great jab and a lot of heart, climbing off the floor to beat Ernie Shavers, fighting with a badly injured hand against Ken Norton, and coming back from the brink of defeat multiple times during his career.

Towards the end of his career, his style of jabbing with an occasional right hand became boring to watch. But he still kept winning. Tyson's style (a shorter pressure fighter) would have always given Holmes' style problems as Frazier's did with Ali. But he had a lot more heart and handled adversity much better.

I thought he beat Spinks the 2nd time around, although it's his own fault he didn't knock him out.

Holmes never had the kind of fan base Ali had. And today, his name isn't mentioned as often as most others are when it comes to talking about the great Heavyweight Champs.

Consider this - Larry Holmes had 20 successful title defenses! And during those fights, there were more than just a few times when he had to overcome some kind of adversity to win.

You can't sweep 20 defenses under the rug.

Do I think he would have beat Frazier? No
Do I think he would have beat Tyson? No

But those are just styles that were all wrong for him. I see him beating both the Klitschkos (no - not in the same night!)

He could have beat Ali - just like Norton thanks to Eddie Futch.
He could split fights against Foreman, Holyfield, etc.

Larry Holmes, as an old man, did well in a losing effort against Evander Holyfield.

Once again - 20 defenses! Lennox Lewis had 15, but that was between mutilple title reigns and getting knocked out twice along the way.

The question is; does Larry Holmes beat Lennox Lewis?