1980-02-10 Larry Holmes vs Muhammad Ali 1-5

Muhammad Ali had been retired for a little over 2 years when he decided he was still the true champion. Other then exhibitions Muhammad Ali was far removed from championship form. Larry Holmes was already 35-0 and becoming a great champion in his own right when Ali started calling him out. Holmes was a former sparring partner of Ali and looked at Ali as something of an idol. Holmes was fresh off wins against Lorenzo Zanon, Leroy Jones and Scott Ledoux, all in konckouts. Those fighters were no where near the quality of Ali, but was Ali over the hill? Ali had last fought two contests against Leon Spinks and after losing the first, won the rematch to put his record at 56-3. Ali would be 39 years old for this fight and although he was in excellent condition, everyone wondered if he could turn back the clock against the younger champion Larry Holmes.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 1980-02-10
• Larry
• Holmes
• vs
• Muhammad
• Ali
• 1-5
• andreacheor

[dropway9]

It's not possible, logically, to have any problem with what Holmes did. Ali wanted to comeback and the money was there. Holmes held off on a lot of punches because he did not to hurt the legend. If anything he deserves tons of credit for his restraint.

And like someone said earlier, Ali signed the contract. He exercised freewill. The medical establishment should never have allowed the fight, that is to be sure. That fact and Holmes's supposed guilt are mutually exclusive.

[XanderEmpyre]

yall need to chill and give respect where its due. both these dudes are legends. holmes couldn't beat ali in his prime -- no doubt. saying that holmes would get destroyed though, is foolish.

[SuperStrik9]

Ali let his arrogance get the best of him. Plain and simple. He deserved every punch Holmes dished out and then some imo. Ali was lucky that Larry was such a nice guy. You put a 1976 George Foreman in that ring and Ali comes out in a body bag. People that say Ali deserved to be as cocky and arrogant as he was just don't get it and never will. If Ali never existed the sun would still come up and life would go on. Meaning you're never as important as you think you are. Arrogance covers weakness.

[panthershock]

@NBAGOATS Ali would not have been granted a license if his full mayo clinic results had been shown. But honestly it was the thyroid medication that made him look so bad more so than the parkinsons. Watch the Berbick fight from 1981, Ali looks so much better despite being overweight. Still, both fights never should have happened

[Ztnarf1985]

Holmes didnt even go 100% on Ali they were friends.Holmes tryed to get the ref to stop it a few times. Ali got beat because he was stubborn and would not retire. Ali should of retired after Foreman he didnt have to prove anything to anyone. Everyone man has to know there limitations this is a prime example. props to both boxers they both need to be on top 10 heavyweight of all time. much respect-

[michaelyouth]

@saulhudson420 There records are basically the same.. Holmes lost 6 times in 60 somethingbouts while Ali lost 5 in 50something. This while Ali avenged 3 out of 5 losses, while he was still not facing early stages of Parkinson. Holmes avenged 0 out of 6 fights. So you are a fucking fooooooooooooooool

[frazleburger]

ali looks like hes showing early sighns of parkinsons here i think

[NBAGOATS]

He looked brain gone at the beginning. He shouldn't have been in the ring. He was obviously sick at this point.

[GETole]

Ali should have retired after Manilla.

[ChampCarforlife]

I really loved the way Ali was have fun before the fight!

[laamchops]

holmes keeping his cool after all that trash talk. big respect

[robberealsr1982]

Holmes even beat the ali beat foreman and frazier the third time . Ali wouldve would have went to jail if he was the same fighter he was when he fought cleveland williams