This means that they rank Larry Holmes above; Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Holyfield, Foreman, Frazier and every other boxing great.
The general public has forgotten Larry Holmes because he was an ok puncher who hit and didn't get hit in the ring, and outside the ring he was usually quiet [unlike Ali and Mayweather].
Tyson beat an old Larry Holmes, Holmes was only controversially beat by Spinks in his era. Larry Holmes wasn't the champion when Tyson fought him.
Larry Holmes is not alone, there are many fighters who are forgotten by the general public who were all time greats.
With that said; i don't think Holmes is the most underrated boxer ever. I believe the most underrated boxer ever was Charley Burley because he never even got a title shot due to his skin color. The most underated boxers were black/hispanic fighters who fought after Jack Johnson & before Joe Louis.
I agree but btw ( tyson wasn't Holmes era ) Holmes era was many years before that fight. Which is another reason he is underrated. People remember an old man getting beat up by tyson not the young man a few years before who was one of the most dominant champions of all time.
Nah, I don't think he's underrated. He's easily top 10 greatest heavyweight of all time and probably had the best jab in the division. He just had the misfortune of following Ali's career so that kinda diminished his greatness.
Underrated, no. Under appreciated, yes very!
I mean, the guy is an all-time great and held the heavyweight title from 1978-1985 (losing it via a highly controversial decision to Michael Spinks). Some conspiracy theorists allege that the judging in that fight was corrupt so that Holmes (black) would not break Marciano's (white) record for unbeaten heavyweight champion - but that's a debate. In any event, Holmes beat every major heavyweight of his era (except Tyson) - Norton, Ali, Berbick, Cooney, Cobb, Earnie Shavers (twice), Leon Spinks, Mike Weaver, Bonecrusher Smith, and Marvis Frazier. I feel his "boring" style (classic boxer, not a big puncher) and his time period (post-Ali, pre-Tyson) made him a forgotten man in the annals of history. Your thoughts?
