Larry Holmes: When the Heavyweight Championship Meant Everything
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By Peter SilkovLarry Holmes stands as one of the most dominant World heavyweight champions that the division has ever seen. His record of 20 consecutive world title defenses is behind only that of Joe Louis and he was also world champion at a time when the division was still riding on an unprecedented wave of talent. Unfortunately for Holmes his title reign was sandwiched between the title reigns of two of the heavyweight division’s most high prolific and controversial stars, Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
Holmes spent the best part of his own title reign trying to gain acceptance and credit for himself, rather than be compared to Muhammad Ali, with mixed results. There seemed always to be some elements both in the media and amongst the fans that blamed Holmes for not being Muhammad Ali; actually beating an aged Ali in 1980 did not help at all. As Ezzard Charles found before him when he beat Joe Louis in 1949, boxing fans do not forgive you for beating their idols.
Ironically, after he had lost his World heavyweight title, Larry Holmes saw Mike Tyson rise to the championship, and in a short time, gain the type of acclaim from both the media and public, which he had fought so long and hard to find for himself.
Larry Holmes was born on November 3, 1949 in Cuthbert, Georgia, but moved to Easton, Pennsylvania at the age of 8 in 1957.
Holmes had a good Amateur career, which was overshadowed by a loss to Duane Bobick in the 1972 Olympic box-off, when he was disqualified for holding. Holmes turned professional soon afterwards. One big turning point in Holmes’ life and career was when he became a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali in 1972 while still an amateur. Holmes sparred with Ali from 1972 to 1975 and absorbed a huge amount from these sessions.
Nicknamed “The Easton Assassin” Holmes modeled his style upon Ali’s, but without so much of the flash of Ali. While Holmes did not quite have the same blinding speed as Ali, he did have a more solid jab. Holmes’ jab has been named as one of the best of any heavyweight champion, alongside those of Louis, Liston, and Ali.
After turning professional inn March 1973, Holmes’ climb up the world rankings was slow and painstaking. His problem was that he found opponents hard to get, but by 1977, he was slowly gaining the reputation as a serious contender for the world title. His technique and pugilistic resemblance to a young Ali impressed people. At the same time, it was wondered whether there was any depth to him as a fighter or if he was simply a robotic copy of Ali, who would crumble when he eventually stepped up in class.
Holmes really arrived as a serious threat for the World heavyweight title on March 25, 1978, when he gave big-punching Earnie Shavers a boxing lesson for 12 rounds to win a WBC title eliminator on points.
Three months later, Holmes won the WBC world heavyweight championship by out- pointing Ken Norton over 15 rounds, in one of the best heavyweight title fights that had not been seen for years. Holmes’ performance in this fight, which both men were hurt and shook up several times, proved to many people that beneath his jab and move exterior, Holmes was a true fighter. He had the grit to dig in when things got tough, just like his mentor Ali had been able to do. Indeed, it was this grit that would be one of the most important aspects of Holmes’ character during his time at the top.
The list of Larry Holmes defenses reads like a who’s who of the heavyweight contenders of the 1970s and 80s, and include defenses against, Earnie Shavers, Mike Weaver, Muhammad Ali, Renaldo Snipes, Gerry Cooney, Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon, Carl Williams, James “Bonecrusher” Smith, David Bey, Carl Williams and Michael Spinks.
In 1980, Holmes defended his title against Muhammad Ali, forcing Ali to retire in his corner after 10 rounds. The win consolidated Holmes’ standing as the true World heavyweight champion.
Holmes had a hugely hyped fight with unbeaten, big-punching,‘white hope’ Gerry Cooney in 1982, eventually outclassing and stopping Cooney in the 13th round. Despite the victory, many aspects of the fight’s build up and the way he was treated by members of the media in the weeks and months leading up to the fight, left a bitter taste in the mouth of Holmes.
At the end of 1984, after a serious of promotional and political wrangles, Holmes relinquished the WBC title and took on the mantle of the newly formed IBF. At the time, the public hardly noticed as Holmes was still undisputedly seen as the World heavyweight champion, despite the splintered nature of the ‘titles.’
On September 25, 1985, a slowing down Larry Holmes lost his IBF world heavyweight championship to Michael Spinks, when he was out-pointed by the fast, crafty Spinks over 15 rounds. Spinks, who became the first World light-heavyweight world champion to successfully move up and win the World heavyweight title, took advantage of the 36-year-old Holmes aging legs and slowing reflexes.
Holmes was just one victory from equaling Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0.
Seven months later, Holmes tried to regain the title from Spinks, but lost again on points, this time via a controversial split decision, with some thinking he had done enough this time to regain the title from Spinks. Holmes himself believed he had been robbed by the judges in this and the previous fight with Spinks, and announced his retirement.
However, as with so many ring greats, “The Easton Assassin” couldn’t keep away from the ring. On January 22, 1988, at the age of 38 and having his first fight in almost 2 years, Holmes was lured out of retirement to face the new star of the division Mike Tyson, for the WBC, IBF, and WBA world heavyweight titles. Having had little time to prepare, Holmes was predictably stopped in savage fashion in the 4th round, after being floored three times. It seemed that Larry Holmes’ ring career would end with this brave and defiant, but ultimately, sad note.
Yet, with his ring career seemingly over, Larry Holmes surprised the boxing world yet again by announcing a comeback 3 years after the Tyson defeat in 1991, at the age of 41. Through 1991 Holmes won five contests against mediocre opposition, showing that he still had the ring smarts and skills to beat that level of opponent. Then on February 7, 1992, Holmes out-pointed the previously unbeaten Ray Mercer. Using his own version of the ‘rope-a-dope’ to outfox and wear down the much younger and stronger Mercer, before getting on the move in the later rounds and out-boxing the tiring Mercer.
Holmes’ victory against Mercer earned him a shot at Evander Holyfield on June 19, 1992, for the World heavyweight championship. Holmes lost on points, but gained a lot of credit with the fans and media for his crafty and plucky showing against the much younger man. Larry Holmes was to find himself much more popular with both fans and media during his ‘late’ career period.
After losing to Holyfield, Holmes ran up a string of 7 victories, including wins over the tough Jose Ribalta and Jesse Ferguson, before facing Oliver McCall on April 8, 1995, for the WBC world heavyweight title. Now 45 years of age, Holmes gave McCall an awkward fight, with his rope-a-dope, counter-punching tactics, and his still useful jab, before losing a close point’s decision.
Over the next seven years Holmes would have 9 more fights, winning them all, except for a controversial split-point’s defeat to Brian Nielsen on January 24, 1997. Many thought that Holmes had done more than enough to win Nielsen’s IBO world heavyweight championship. Holmes had 4 more fights after the Nielsen ‘defeat,’ winning them all. The Easton Assassin’s last fight was a point’s win over Eric “Butterbean” Esch on July 27, 2002. Larry Holmes was 52 years of age.
At his best, Larry Holmes was without a doubt one of the best world champions ever seen in the heavyweight division; his record against one of the most talented groups of heavyweight contenders ever seen speaks for itself. This, along with his longevity, makes Holmes a very exceptional fighter who too often hasn’t received the recognition that he deserved. Often compared with Ali, Holmes had probably the best jab ever seen in the division and a dangerous and often overlooked right hand. In addition to this, Holmes was clever and crafty in the ring, which later in his career was able to use his experience and guile to compensate for his loss of speed and mobility.
Larry Holmes final record is 69-6, 44 KO’s.
Listen to the recent RSR Podcast Show with Larry Holmes