No Holds Barred: The Greatest

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman discusses the life and times of "The Greatest", Muhammad Ali, who passed away Friday, June 3, at the age of 74. Discussed are how Ali was in essence a man of his times, how he transcended boxing and all sports in a way that has not been seen before or since, the historical context in which he developed as a person and as a boxer, his ties with Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, his relationship to the Black Liberation Movement, how his opposition to the U.S. war in Vietnam was vindicated, and much more.

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The Day I Saw Holmes Arrive

Many boxing observers have conveyed to me over the years that they knew by 1976-77, that Larry Holmes was a future champ. This is a fraternity to which I am not a member. I wasn't convinced about Holmes potential in 1977. Holmes had been on my radar since the early 1970s. I knew of his stoppage defeat to hard hitting Nick Wells as an amateur, and watched Duane Bobick knock the hell out of him at the 1972 Olympic trials final. As of 1976-77 after turning pro in 1973, Holmes was looking unimpressive beating journeymen Joe Gholoston and Fred Askew. He scored a big decision win over Roy "Tiger" Williams in early 1976, but was shook pretty good in the process. As late as September of 1977, Holmes looked so-so beating Fred Houpe, who former heavyweight champ Joe Louis owned a piece of. At the time I was starting to believe Holmes couldn't punch, wasn't that tough, and was a cheap Muhammad Ali wannabe. By late 1977, I was convinced Holmes only claim to fame was bettering Ali in the gym when they worked together. Which meant nothing to me. Since Ali was the worst gym fighter in the world, and sometimes lost the decision sparring Jimmy Ellis in the sixties.

On Saturday afternoon March 25th 1978, it all changed. That was the day Holmes fought fifth ranked Earnie Shavers, who he once worked as a sparring partner for. Shavers, in his last fight six months earlier, shook Muhammad Ali a few times over 15-rounds en-route to losing a unanimous decision, failing to capture the Undisputed Heavyweight title. The fight with Shavers would provide the ultimate lie-detector test as to just how good Holmes was or could be in my opinion. When the fight concluded, I had my answer regarding what I thought of Holmes. And that was not only is he a future heavyweight champ, but he's the next.

For 12-rounds Holmes put on a boxing clinic and won 34 of 36 minutes versus Shavers. Shavers, who had dynamite in both hands, was reduced to looking to land a lottery punch by the end of the fifth round. Holmes jab looked better than I'd ever seen it. He threw them in multiples, and they were hard and fast. And when Shavers was there for the taking, Holmes cut loose with his right cross with laser accuracy, disrupting Shavers aggression more so than Ali had six months earlier. Larry's legs enabled him to dictate the pace and geography of the fight, and he even looked a little like Cassius Clay circa 1964. Holmes showed the hunger and desire you look for in a championship caliber fighter. He never let up, and to this day the only fight I think he fought more purposeful during, was his title defense against Gerry Cooney four and a half years later. Three months after beating Shavers, Holmes won a split decision over Ken Norton to capture the WBC heavyweight title. Something I had no doubt he'd do, but only after I saw his official arrival on March 25, 1978 during his first fight with Earnie Shavers. Thirty years after Holmes beat Shavers, I consider him one of the five greatest heavyweights of all time.

In 2005, I ranked Larry Holmes number four on my IBRO heavyweight ballot.

The Ali Legend Grows, as Frazier's Shrinks

I just finished reading an article in the Philadelphia Daily news by Bernard Fernandez acknowledging Ali's 65th birthday, "While Ali's career is Celebrated, Frazier's is overlooked." I happen to think the title is quite appropriate, and I'm the biggest Ali fan on the Planet. Look, in my opinion, Muhammad Ali had more ways and weapons to beat other great heavyweights than any other champion in history, (he's actually more vulnerable to the near greats). His toughness and will to win, along with his ability to take a punch to the head and body is unmatched.

Sure, there were better boxers who exhibited better fundamentals and basics, (Tunney, Johnson & Holmes). There were better punchers along with those who were better conditioned January thru December. But no other heavyweight was more complete, be it in a flawed way. On top of that, he beat the best heavyweights over 20 years during an era most respected historians consider the best era in the history of the division. Lastly, if there was another heavyweight who thrived under pressure and repeatedly had an extra gear in a big spot like Ali, I missed him.

That said, Joe Frazier is wrongly perceived by some and doesn't get his due as the all-time great he was. On the World stage, Ali dwarfs Smokin Joe, but not as a fighter. No opponent ever gave Ali more trouble, fought him harder or took him to hell and back three times the way Frazier did. Some try and pass that off by stating Frazier had the right style, and nothing more.

Well, if that's the case, believe me, it didn't happen by accident. Frazier and his trainer, Yank Durham, understood Ali's style better than anybody else. Granted, Joe's body structure and build suited him best fighting on the inside. But the constant bobbing and weaving and head movement caused Ali to miss and somewhat neutralized his best offensive and defensive weapon, his lighting fast left jab. A punch he could alter direction with after released while in midstream. And he still missed a ton of them in all three fights totalling 41 rounds against Frazier.

As fighters, it's splitting hairs as to who was greater. It's just that Ali, because of his height and reach, was more adaptable. In a tournament of all-time greats, Ali does better versus the field than Frazier. However, with the exception of Sonny Liston and George Foreman, Joe probably handles any other upper-tier Ali opponent easier. Yes, that includes Ernie Terrell, Cleveland Williams, Mac Foster, Blue Lewis, Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers. And Larry Holmes on his best night is in deeper water fighting Frazier than he would've been Ali. Against Ali, he'd only lose by being out pointed, against Frazier he'd get worked over like he never did in his career.

Ali stimulated conversation on race, war, Politics, the draft, Civil rights and Religion, just to name a few. Along with that he was the heavyweight champion of the world at a time when it meant something. Ali was much more than just a fighter. On the other hand, Joe Frazier was just a fighter. The one who happened to sit Ali on his rear end in the biggest, most anticipated and comprehensibly covered sporting event of all-time.

A lot of fighters have won a lot of big fights in boxing history, but only one won the biggest fight ever. His name is Joe Frazier. Boxing could thrive for another five hundred years, yet I doubt another fighter will hit the high note that Joe Frazier did on March 8th, 1971.

Despite rating Ali the greatest heavyweight who has yet lived, the best headline I've ever read in a newspaper the day after a fight, came at his expense. The headline across the top of the Camden Courier Post March 9, 1971.

Joe's Left-Right Up Muhammad's Ali!