The uneventful birth of Larry Holmes took place in Cuthbert, Georgia, on November 3, 1949. The birth of the future boxing legend is one of the few uneventful things that would happen in his life.
Larry Holmes won the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship in 1978. He relinquished the belt in 1983 without a loss. He became the first heavyweight champion to represent the International Boxing Federation in 1983 and reigned as IBF champion for two years.
Once his time in the ring was complete, Holmes had more successful title defenses than any heavyweight champion except Joe Louis. His seven years as heavyweight champion was the longest in history. And he was one of only five men to defeat Muhammad Ali in a boxing match.
A solid defense and one of the best jabs in boxing history were perhaps the main ingredients to Holmes’ success as a fighter. But it was the fierceness with which he fought that earned him the nickname “Easton Assassin.”
Early Life
John and Flossie Holmes shared twelve children. Larry was the name chosen for the fourth of the bunch. The search for a better life led to Flossie and the kids moving to Easton, Pennsylvania. John was able to find work in Connecticut.
Larry’s father no longer lived with his family but visited them no less than once a month. John never neglected his family but “did not have anything to give,” as his mother explains.
Larry left school in the seventh grade to help his mother support his younger siblings. His first job was for $1 an hour at a car wash. He later found work as a laborer in a quarry and dump truck driver. The other constant in the early life of Larry Holmes was fighting.
Amateur Career
Larry Holmes began his amateur career as a boxer when he was 19 years old. His twentieth fight took place at the 1972 Olympic trials held in Ft. Worth, Texas. The more experienced Nick Wells gave Larry the second defeat of his amateur career.
Wells was also responsible for Holmes’ first defeat earlier the same year at a National Amateur Athletic Union tournament. Larry fought once more as an amateur after losing to wells for the second time. This time he competed at the Olympic Box-Offs. Holmes lost by disqualification for excessive holding during a match against Duane Bobick. His amateur record stood at 19 wins against three losses.
Professional Career
Larry Holmes was 24 years old when he decided to get paid to lace up boxing gloves. His first four-rounder against Rodell Dupree was a win at Scranton, Pennsylvania’s Catholic Youth Center, on March 21, 1973.
Holmes suffered from inexperience early in his career but received a boxing education like no other. His knowledge of the boxing craft increased while sparring with Golden Age heavyweight greats Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jimmy Young, and Ernie Shavers. The boxing people attending these sparring wars agreed that experience was all Larry lacked in these battles.
Larry recalls thinking to himself, “if I can hold my own with these guys now,” what will happen later. Five years after the start of his amateur career, Larry Holmes’ record was 27-0, and a title fight against Ken Norton provided the perfect opportunity to show both the world and himself what later had become.
Larry Holmes vs. Ken Norton
The 45 minutes Larry Holmes and Ken Norton shared in the ring represents boxing at its brutal best. All three ringside judges had the fight dead even after 14 rounds. Holmes earned the nod from two of the three judges in the 15th round. The effort was enough for Larry Holmes to become the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the world.
Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali
Ernie Shavers and Mike Weaver were two of the seven men Larry Holmes defended his WBC heavyweight title against before facing Muhammad Ali. The fight between Holmes and Ali took place on October 2, 1980, at Las Vegas’s Caesar’s Palace. The beloved Ali was leaving retirement once more for an opportunity to become the first man crowned heavyweight champion on four different occasions.
Larry Holmes dominated the fight against his former mentor and sparring partner from start to finish. Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee decided that ten rounds were enough for his fighter, and Ali retired on his stool before the beginning of the 11th round. A visibly upset Holmes cried during a post-fight interview while speaking of the respect he possessed for Ali.
Controversy
Larry Holmes is not a man to mince his words. His outspoken personality and unapologetic nature caused him to become involved in more than one controversy while holding the heavyweight championship.
The strained relationship Holmes maintained with the WBC came to a boiling point in 1983 when the champ signed to fight Marvis Frazier. Marvis is the son of the hall of fame heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier. The council refused to sanction the fight and demanded that Holmes fight Greg Paige for less money.
Holmes refused the council’s demands. He chose instead to blaze a trail of his own. He made more than $3 million for knocking Frazier out in the first round. His next move was voluntarily relinquishing his WBC title.
Larry Holmes no longer held a title belt but fans and media alike considered him the lineal heavyweight champion. The International Boxing Federation stepped forward to express its desire to recognize Holmes as its inaugural champion. Holmes accepted and immediately resumed his reign at the top of the heavyweight division by stopping James “Bonecrusher” Smith.
A couple more title defenses and Larry Holmes found himself ready to make boxing history by defeating Michael Spinks in 1985. Instead, he found himself facing the toughest controversy of his career.
Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks
Larry Holmes’ boxing record was 48-0 in 1985. The 36-year-old champion would make history with a win against undisputed light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks.
The victory would be the 20th title defense for Holmes. But more importantly, he would equal the mark of 49 wins with zero losses for a heavyweight champion set by Rocky Marciano in 1956. The competitor was also looking to make history by becoming the first active light heavyweight champion to gain a share of the heavyweight crown.
Holmes fell victim to a unanimous decision with which some observers disagreed. But more controversy began after the fight when an angry ex-champion, moments after the first loss of his career, exploded at the post-fight press conference.
An angry Larry Holmes declared Rocky Marciano unable to “carry” his jockstrap. Holmes questioned the authenticity of Marciano’s career and was critical of the deceased champ’s brother, who was in attendance.
Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks rematched a year later. This time one of the three judges ruled in favor of Holmes. But Spinks emerged champion once more.
The post-fight press conference was more colorful the second time around. But this time, Holmes directed his anger at boxing in general. At one point, the Easton Assassin invited “judges, referees, and promoters to kiss where the sun don’t shine.” Larry Holmes announced his retirement three days after his 37th birthday in November 1986.
Larry Holmes vs. Mike Tyson
Larry Holmes proved unable to ignore the call of the boxing ring for long. He agreed to challenge Mike Tyson for the heavyweight championship on January 22, 1988. Holmes suffered the only knockout of his career when he could not finish the fourth round. He retired once more after the fight.
More Comebacks
Larry Holmes not only returned to the boxing ring three years later in 1991. He returned as an active fighter that fought five times in less than a year. His sixth fight was against undefeated Olympic gold medalist Ray Mercer in February of the following year. The 41-year-old Holmes pulled off the upset.
Holmes challenged Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world four months after his win over Mercer. Holyfield won a unanimous decision.
The last opportunity for Larry Holmes to once again become a world champion took place in January of 1997. He lost a 12-round split decision in Copenhagen to Brian Nielson, IBO champion.
Larry Holmes vs. Butterbean
Larry Holmes stepped into a professional boxing ring for the last time in February of 2002. His opponent was Erick “Butterbean” Esch. The fight happened at Norfolk, Virginia’s Scope Arena, and the crowd couldn’t help but feel a bit of nostalgia when Holmes entered the ring with his longtime favorite “Ain’t no Stopping Us Now,” providing the marching music.
Holmes was a 52-year-old grandfather when a war of words led to his fight with a former Toughman competitor weighing over 300 pounds. Holmes’ feet were noticeably slower, and much of the sting was gone from his legendary jab. But his ring IQ and his will to win propelled the aging former champion to a unanimous decision.
Retirement
Larry Holmes retired for good after fighting Esch. He settled down in Easton with his wife, Diane, and managed the numerous investments he made throughout his career. The Easton Assassin owned two restaurants, an office complex, a nightclub, and several other businesses that employed more than 200 people at one point. He sold many of his business interests in 2006 and continues to live with his wife in Pennsylvania.