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Larry Holmes
File:Larry Holmes awarded the Jaycees.jpg
Holmes with the Jaycees trophy in 1979
Personal information
Real name: Larry Holmes
Nickname(s): Easton Assassin
Nationality: American
Date of birth: (1949-11-03) November 3, 1949 (age 75)
Place of birth: Cuthbert, Georgia, USA
Personal Statistics
Rated at: Heavyweight
Reach: 81in
Boxing career information

Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949) is a former professional boxer. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin.

Holmes, whose left jab is rated among the best in boxing history,[1] was the WBC Heavyweight Champion from 1978 to 1983, The Ring Heavyweight Champion from 1980 to 1985, and the IBF Heavyweight Champion from 1983 to 1985. He made twenty successful title defenses, second only to Joe Louis' twenty-five.

Holmes won his first forty-eight professional bouts, including victories over Earnie Shavers, Ken Norton, Muhammad Ali, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon and Marvis Frazier, and fell one short of matching Rocky Marciano's career record of 49-0 when he lost to Michael Spinks in 1985. Holmes retired after losing a rematch to Spinks, but made repeated comebacks and was unsuccessful in three further attempts to regain the title, the last in 1995. He had his last fight in 2002 and ended with a career record of 69-6. [2] He is frequently ranked as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time[3] and has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Early life[]

Holmes was the fourth of twelve children born to John and Flossie Holmes. When the family moved to Easton in 1954, Holmes' father went to Connecticut, where he worked as a gardener until his death in 1970. He visited his family every three weeks. "He didn't forsake us," said Flossie Holmes. "He just didn't have anything to give." The family survived on welfare.

To help support his family, Holmes dropped out of school when he was in the seventh grade and went to work at a car wash for $1 an hour. He later drove a dump truck and worked in a quarry.[4]

Amateur boxing career[]

When Holmes was nineteen, he started boxing. In his twenty-second bout, he boxed Duane Bobick in the 1972 Olympic Trials. Holmes was dropped in the first round with a right to the head. He got up and danced out of range, landing several stiff jabs in the process. Bobick mauled Holmes in the second round but couldn't corner him. The referee warned Holmes twice in the second for holding. In the third, Bobick landed several good rights and started to corner Holmes, who continued to hold. Eventually, Holmes was disqualified for excessive holding. [5]

Early boxing career[]

After compiling an amateur record of 19-3, Holmes turned professional on March 21, 1973, winning a four-round decision against Rodell Dupree. Early in his career, he worked as a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Earnie Shavers, and Jimmy Young. He was paid well and learned a lot. "I was young, and I didn't know much. But I was holding my own sparring those guys," Holmes said. "I thought, 'hey, these guys are the best, the champs. If I can hold my own now, what about later?'"

Holmes first gained credibility as a contender when he upset the hard-punching Earnie Shavers in March 1978. Holmes won by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous decision, winning every round on two scorecards and all but one on the third. Holmes's victory over Shavers set up a title shot between Holmes and WBC Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 9, 1978.

WBC Heavyweight Champion[]

The fight between Holmes and Norton was a tough, competitive fight. After fourteen rounds, all three judges had the fight scored dead even at seven rounds each. Holmes rallied late in the fifteenth to win the round on two scorecards and take the title by a split decision. [6]

In his first two title defenses, Holmes easily knocked out Alfredo Evangelista and Ossie Ocasio. His third title defense was a tough one. On June 22, 1979, Holmes faced future WBA Heavyweight Champion Mike Weaver, who was lightly regarded going into the fight sporting an uninspiring 19-8 record. After ten tough rounds, Holmes dropped Weaver with a right uppercut late in round eleven. In the twelfth, Holmes immediately went on the attack, backing Weaver into the ropes and pounding him with powerful rights until the referee stepped in and stopped it. "This man knocked the devil out of me," Holmes said. "This man might not have had credit before tonight, but you'll give it to him now."[7]

Three months later, on September 28, 1979, Holmes had a rematch with Shavers, who got a title shot by knocking out Ken Norton in one round. Holmes dominated the first six rounds, but in the seventh, Shavers sent Holmes down with a devastating overhand right. Holmes got up, survived the round, and went on to stop Shavers in the eleventh.[8]

His next three defenses were knockouts of Lorenzo Zanon, Leroy Jones, and Scott LeDoux.

On October 2, 1980, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Holmes defended his title against Ali, who was coming out of retirement in an attempt to become the first four-time World Heavyweight Champion. Holmes dominated Ali from start to finish, winning every round on every scorecard. At the end of the tenth round, Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee, stopped the fight.[9] After the win, Holmes received recognition as World Heavyweight Champion by The Ring magazine.

Ali blamed his poor performance on thyroid medication that he had been taking, claiming that it helped him lose weight (he weighed 217½, his lowest weight since he fought George Foreman in 1974), but it also left him drained for the fight.[10]

Holmes seemed to show signs of regret, or at least sadness, in punishing Ali so much during the fight. He appeared in a post fight interview with tears in his eyes as he was asked why he was crying, replying that he respected Ali "a whole lot" and "he fought one of the baddest heavyweights in the world today, and you cannot take credit from him".[11]

After eight consecutive knockouts, Holmes was forced to go the distance when he successfully defended his title against future WBC Heavyweight Champion Trevor Berbick on April 11, 1981. In his next fight, two months later, Holmes knocked out former Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks in three rounds. On November 6, 1981, Holmes rose from a seventh-round knockdown (during which he staggered into the turnbuckle) to stop Renaldo Snipes in the eleventh.

Holmes vs. Cooney[]

On June 11, 1982, Holmes defended his title against Gerry Cooney, the undefeated #1 contender and an Irish-American. The lead up to the fight had many racial overtones. Holmes said that if Cooney wasn't white, he wouldn't be getting the same purse as the champion (Both boxers received $10 million for the bout).[12] Although Cooney tried to deflect questions about race, members of his camp wore shirts that said "Not the White Man, but the Right Man."[12]

Many[who?] felt Holmes was unfairly slighted leading up to the fight. In their fight previews, Sports Illustrated and Time put Cooney on the cover, not Holmes. President Ronald Reagan had a phone installed in Cooney's dressing room so he could call him if he won the fight. Holmes had no such arrangement. Lastly, boxing tradition dictates that the champion is introduced last, but the challenger, Cooney, was introduced last.[12]

The bout was held in a 32,000 seat stadium erected in a Caesar's Palace Parking lot, with millions more watching around the world. After an uneventful first round, Holmes dropped Cooney with a right in the second. Cooney came back well in the next two rounds, jarring Holmes with his powerful left hook. Holmes later said that Cooney "hit me so damned hard, I felt it - boom - in my bones.|[13]

Cooney was tiring by the ninth, a round in which he had two points deducted for low blows. In the tenth, they traded punches relentlessly. At the end of the round, the two nodded to each other in respect.[13]

Cooney lost another point because of low blows in the eleventh. By then, Holmes was landing with ease. In the thirteenth, a barrage of punches sent Cooney down. He got up, but his trainer, Victor Valle, stepped into the ring and stopped the fight.[13]

After the fight, Holmes and Cooney would become close friends.[13][14]

Trouble with the WBC[]

Holmes' next two fights were one-sided decision wins over Randall "Tex" Cobb and Lucien Rodriguez. On May 23, 1983, Holmes defended his title against Tim Witherspoon, the future WBC and WBA Heavyweight Champion. Witherspoon, a six to one underdog and with only 15 professional bouts to his name, surprised many by giving Holmes a difficult fight. After twelve rounds, Holmes retained the title by a disputed split decision.[15] Boxing Monthly named it one of the ten most controversial decisions of all time.

On September 10, 1983, Holmes successfully defended the WBC title for the sixteenth time, knocking out Scott Frank in five rounds. Holmes then signed to fight Marvis Frazier, son of Joe Frazier, on November 25, 1983. The WBC refused to sanction the fight against the unranked Frazier. They ordered Holmes to fight Greg Page, the #1 contender, or be stripped of the title. Promoter Don King offered Holmes $2.55 million to fight Page, but the champion didn't think that was enough. He was making $3.1 million to fight Frazier and felt he should get as much as $5 million to fight Page.[16]

Holmes had an easy time with Frazier, knocking him out in the first round.[17] The following month, Holmes relinquished the WBC championship and accepted recognition as World Heavyweight Champion by the newly formed International Boxing Federation.[18]

IBF Heavyweight Champion[]

Holmes signed to fight Gerrie Coetzee, the WBA Champion, on June 15, 1984 at Caesar's Palace. The fight was being promoted by JPD Inc., but it was canceled when Caesar's Palace said the promoters failed to meet the financial conditions of the contract. Holmes was promised $13 million and Coetzee was promised $8 million. Even after cutting the purses dramatically, they still couldn't come up with enough financial backing to stage the fight.[19] Don King then planned to promote the fight, but Holmes lost a lawsuit filed by Virginia attorney Richard Hirschfeld, who said he had a contract with Holmes that gave him right of first refusal on a Holmes-Coetzee bout. Holmes then decided to move on and fight someone else.[20]

On November 9, 1984, after a year out of the ring, Holmes made his first defense of the IBF title, stopping James "Bonecrusher" Smith on a cut in the twelfth round. In the first half of 1985, Holmes stopped David Bey in ten rounds for his 19th title defense. His next against Carl "The Truth" Williams was unexpectedly tough. The younger, quicker Williams was able to out-jab the aging champion, who was left with a badly swollen eye by the end of the bout. Holmes emerged with a close, and disputed, fifteen-round unanimous decision.

On September 21, 1985, Holmes lost the IBF title by a close fifteen-round unanimous decision to Michael Spinks, who became the first reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion to win the World Heavyweight Championship. If Holmes had been victorious against Spinks, he would have tied Rocky Marciano's career record of 49-0.[21] After the fight, a bitter Holmes said, "Rocky Marciano couldn't carry my jockstrap." Holmes received a lot of criticism for the remarks. Shortly afterward, he apologized.[22]

Holmes had a rematch with Spinks on April 19, 1986. Spinks retained the title with a disputed fifteen-round split decision. The judges scored the fight: Judge Joe Cortez 144-141 (Holmes), Judge Frank Brunette 141-144 (Spinks) and Judge Jerry Roth 142-144 (Spinks.)[23] In a post-fight interview with HBO, Holmes said, "the judges, the referees and promoters can kiss me where the sun don't shine - and because we're on HBO, that's my big black behind."[24]

On November 6, 1986, three days after his 37th birthday, Holmes announced his retirement.[25]

Comebacks[]

On January 22, 1988, Holmes was lured out of retirement by a $2.8 million purse to challenge reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson. Tyson dropped Holmes in the fourth round with an overhand right. Holmes got up, but Tyson put him down two more times in the round, and the fight was stopped. It was the only time Holmes would be knocked out in his lengthy career. After the fight, Holmes once again retired.[26]

Holmes returned to the ring in 1991. After five straight wins, he fought Ray Mercer, the undefeated 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist, on February 7, 1992. Holmes pulled off the upset and won by a twelve-round unanimous decision.[27] The win got Holmes a shot at Evander Holyfield for the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship. On June 19, 1992, Holyfield defeated Holmes by a twelve-round unanimous decision.[28]

Holmes won seven consecutive fights and then got another title shot. On April 8, 1995, he fought Oliver McCall for the WBC title. Holmes lost by a close twelve-round unanimous decision. Two of the judges had him losing by only one point, while the other judge had him losing by three points.[29]

On January 24, 1997, Holmes went to Denmark to fight Brian Nielsen, who was 31-0. Nielsen won by a twelve-round split decision to retain the International Boxing Organization title.[30]

Holmes and George Foreman signed to fight on January 23, 1999 at the Houston Astrodome. Foreman called off the fight several weeks before it was to take place because the promoter failed to meet the deadline for paying him the remaining $9 million of his $10 million purse. Foreman received a nonrefundable $1 million deposit, and Holmes got to keep a $400,000 down payment of his $4 million purse.[31]

Holmes' next two fights were rematches with old foes. On June 18, 1999, he stopped “Bonecrusher” Smith in eight rounds,[32] and on November 17, 2000, he stopped Mike Weaver in six.[33]

File:Larry Holmes 2010.jpg

Holmes in Beaufort, South Carolina in 2010.

Holmes' final fight was on July 27, 2002 in Norfolk, Virginia. He defeated Eric "Butterbean" Esch by a ten-round unanimous decision.[34]

Honors[]

Holmes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.[35]

Life after Boxing[]

Holmes invested the money he earned from boxing and settled in his hometown of Easton. When he retired from boxing, Holmes employed more than 200 people through his various business holdings. In 2008, he owned two restaurants and a nightclub, a training facility, an office complex, a snack food bar and slot machines.[36] Holmes currently co-hosts a talk show "What The Heck Were They Thinking?" [37]

Professional boxing record[]

69 Wins (44 knockouts), 6 Losses, 0 Draws [1]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rounds Date Location Notes
Win 69–6 United States Eric Esch UD 10 27/07/2002 United States Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia
Win 68–6 United States Mike Weaver TKO 6 (10) 17/11/2000 United States Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi
Win 67–6 United States James Smith TKO 8 (10) 18/06/1999 United States Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Win 66–6 United States Maurice Harris SD 10 29/07/1997 United States MSG Theater, New York, New York
Loss 65–6 File:Flag of Denmark.svg Brian Nielsen SD 12 24/01/1997 File:Flag of Denmark.svg Brondby hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark For IBO heavyweight title.
Win 65–5 United States Anthony Willis KO 8 (10) 16/06/1996 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Win 64–5 United States Quinn Navarre UD 10 16/04/1996 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Win 63–5 United States Curtis Sheppard KO 4 (10) 09/01/1996 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Win 62–5 United States Ed Donaldson UD 10 19/09/1995 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Loss 61–5 United States Oliver McCall UD 12 08/04/1995 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada For WBC heavyweight title.
Win 61–4 United States Jesse Ferguson UD 10 09/08/1994 United States Mystic Lake Casino, Shakopee, Minnesota
Win 60–4 United States Garing Lane UD 10 08/03/1994 United States Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Win 59–4 File:Flag of Cuba.svg Jose Ribalta UD 10 28/09/1993 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Win 58–4 United States Paul Poirier TKO 7 (10) 18/05/1993 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Win 57–4 Canada Ken Lakusta TKO 8 (10) 13/04/1993 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Win 56–4 United States Rocky Pepeli TKO 4 (10) 09/03/1993 United States Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Win 55–4 United States Everett Martin UD 10 05/01/1993 United States Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi
Loss 54–4 United States Evander Holyfield UD 12 19/06/1992 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada For Lineal, WBC, WBA, & IBF heavyweight titles.
Win 54–3 United States Ray Mercer UD 12 07/02/1992 United States Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 53–3 United States Jamie Howe TKO 1 (10) 12/11/1991 United States Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida
Win 52–3 United States Art Card UD 10 17/09/1991 United States Marriott World Center, Orlando, Florida
Win 51–3 United States Michael Greer KO 4 (10) 24/08/1991 United States Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Win 50–3 United States Eddie Gonzales UD 10 13/08/1991 United States Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida
Win 49–3 United States Tim Anderson TKO 1 (10) 07/04/1991 United States Diplomat Hotel, Hollywood, Florida
Loss 48–3 United States Mike Tyson TKO 4 (12) 22/01/1988 United States Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey For WBC, WBA, & IBF heavyweight titles.
Loss 48–2 United States Michael Spinks SD 15 19/04/1986 United States Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada For The Ring & IBF heavyweight titles.
Loss 48–1 United States Michael Spinks UD 15 21/09/1985 United States Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Lost The Ring & IBF heavyweight titles.
Ring Magazine Upset of the year.
Win 48–0 United States Carl Williams UD 15 20/05/1985 United States Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada Retained The Ring & IBF heavyweight titles.
Win 47–0 United States David Bey TKO 10 (15) 15/03/1985 United States Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained The Ring & IBF heavyweight titles.
Win 46–0 United States James Smith TKO 12 (15) 09/11/1984 United States Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained The Ring & IBF heavyweight titles.
On 11 December 1983, Holmes relinquished the WBC title and accepted recognition as champion by the newly-created IBF
Win 45–0 United States Marvis Frazier TKO 1 (15) 25/11/1983 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained The Ring heavyweight title.
Win 44–0 United States Scott Frank TKO 5 (15) 10/09/1983 United States Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 43–0 United States Tim Witherspoon SD 12 20/05/1983 United States Dunes Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 42–0 File:Flag of France.svg Lucien Rodriguez UD 12 27/03/1983 United States Watres Armory, Scranton, Pennsylvania Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 41–0 United States Randall Cobb UD 15 26/11/1982 United States Reliant Astrodome, Houston, Texas Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 40–0 United States Gerry Cooney TKO 13 (15) 11/06/1982 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 39–0 United States Renaldo Snipes TKO 11 (15) 06/11/1981 United States Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 38–0 United States Leon Spinks TKO 3 (15) 12/06/1981 United States Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 37–0 Canada Trevor Berbick UD 15 11/04/1981 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC & The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 36–0 United States Muhammad Ali RTD 10 (15) 02/10/1980 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC & won The Ring heavyweight titles.
Win 35–0 United States Scott LeDoux TKO 7 (15) 07/07/1980 United States Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, Minnesota Retained WBC heavyweight title.
Win 34–0 United States Leroy Jones TKO 8 (15) 31/03/1980 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC heavyweight title.
Win 33–0 Italy Lorenzo Zanon KO 6 (15) 03/02/1980 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC heavyweight title.
Win 32–0 United States Earnie Shavers TKO 11 (15) 28/09/1979 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC heavyweight title.
Win 31–0 United States Mike Weaver TKO 12 (15) 22/06/1979 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Retained WBC heavyweight title.
Win 30–0 File:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Ossie Ocasio TKO 7 (15) 23/03/1979 United States Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC heavyweight title.
Win 29–0 File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Alfredo Evangelista KO 7 (15) 10/11/1978 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBC heavyweight title.
Win 28–0 United States Ken Norton SD 15 09/06/1978 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Won WBC heavyweight title.
Win 27–0 United States Earnie Shavers UD 12 25/03/1978 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada WBC heavyweight title eliminator.
Win 26–0 United States Ibar Arrington TKO 10 (10) 05/11/1977 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 25–0 United States Fred Houpe TKO 7 (10) 14/09/1977 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 24–0 United States Horace Robinson TKO 5 (10) 17/03/1977 File:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win 23–0 United States Tom Prater UD 8 16/01/1977 United States Aboard USS Lexington, Pensacola, Florida
Win 22–0 United States Roy Williams UD 10 30/04/1976 United States Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland
Win 21–0 United States Fred Askew TKO 2 (10) 05/04/1976 United States Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland
Win 20–0 United States Joe Gholston TKO 8 (10) 29/01/1976 United States Kirby Sports Center, Easton, Pennsylvania
Win 19–0 United States Billy Joiner TKO 3 (10) 20/12/1975 File:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win 18–0 United States Leon Shaw KO 1 (10) 09/12/1975 United States D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C.
Win 17–0 United States Rodney Bobick TKO 6 (10) 01/10/1975 File:Flag of the Philippines.svg Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
Win 16–0 United States Charlie James PTS 10 26/08/1975 United States Honolulu, Hawaii
Win 15–0 United States Obie English TKO 7 (10) 16/08/1975 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 14–0 United States Ernie Smith KO 3 (8) 16/05/1975 United States Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 13–0 United States Robert Yarborough KO 4 (?) 26/04/1975 Canada Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario
Win 12–0 File:Flag of Jamaica.svg Oliver Wright TKO 3 (?) 09/04/1975 United States Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Win 11–0 United States Charley Green KO 1 (8) 24/03/1975 United States Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
Win 10–0 United States Joe Hathaway TKO 1 (8) 11/12/1974 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 9–0 United States Bob Mashburn TKO 7 (8) 29/05/1974 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 8–0 United States Howard Darlington TKO 4 (6) 24/04/1974 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 7–0 United States Kevin Isaac TKO 3 (6) 28/11/1973 United States Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 6–0 United States Jerry Judge PTS 6 14/11/1973 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 5–0 United States Bob Bozic PTS 6 10/09/1973 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 4–0 United States Don Branch PTS 6 22/08/1973 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 3–0 United States Curtis Whitner TKO 1 (4) 20/06/1973 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 2–0 United States Art Savage TKO 3 (4) 02/05/1973 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Win 1–0 United States Rodell Dupree PTS 4 21/03/1973 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania

See also[]

References[]

  1. 10 things to still appreciate about Larry Holmes
  2. The Professional Record of Larry Holmes at BoxRec
  3. Historians Rankings Of The Top 10 All-Time Heavyweights
  4. Sports Illustrated November 6, 1978
  5. The Tuscaloosa News August 6, 1972
  6. Sports Illustrated November 6, 1978
  7. The Spokesman-Review June 23, 1979
  8. The Argus-Press September 29, 1979
  9. Sports Illustrated October 13, 1980
  10. The Pittsburgh Press October 6, 1980
  11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0N6NTUbWFA
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Dahlberg, Time (June 30, 2007). "Holmes and Cooney recall divisive fight". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2007-06-30-3180160253_x.htm.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Tallent, Aaron (June 9, 2006 (Archived copy of original article)). "Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney". TheSweetScience.com. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090221080821/http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3174/larry-holmes-gerry-cooney/.
  14. Boxing 101, "Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney: Foes for a Night, Friends for a Lifetime", June 11, 2012
  15. Sports Illustrated May 30, 1983
  16. Ottawa Citizen August 16, 1983
  17. Ottawa Citizen November 26, 1983
  18. "The Rock Hill Herald December 12, 1983
  19. Times Daily July 3, 1984
  20. Eugen Register-Guard September 19, 1984
  21. Sports Illustrated September 30, 1985
  22. Lakeland Ledger September 24, 1985
  23. "Holmes vs Spinks 2nd Fight Scorecards.". boxrec.com. http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Larry_Holmes_vs._Michael_Spinks_%282nd_meeting%29. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  24. Sports Illustrated April 28, 1986
  25. New York Times November 7, 1986
  26. Herald-Journal January 23, 1988
  27. The Victoria Advocate February 9, 1992
  28. The Angus-Press June 20, 1992
  29. The Daily Gazette April 7, 1995
  30. Gadsden Times January 25, 1997
  31. The Free Lance-Star January 2, 1999
  32. Manila Standard June 26, 1999
  33. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel November 21, 2000
  34. Lakeland Ledger July 30, 2002
  35. International Boxing Hall of Fame
  36. Hart, Colin (May 15, 2008). "Holmes Sweet Holmes". The Sun (London). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/article1164970.ece. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  37. Satterfield, Lem (october 28, 2009). "Larry Holmes: ESPN Documentary 'Didn't Do Me Justice'". aolnews.com. AOLNews. http://www.aolnews.com/2009/10/28/muhammad-and-larry-documentary-didnt-do-me-justice-says-holm/. Retrieved May 16, 2012.

External links[]

Achievements
Preceded by
Ken Norton
WBC Heavyweight Champion
June 9, 1978 – December 11, 1983
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Tim Witherspoon
Preceded by
Muhammad Ali
The Ring Magazine Heavyweight Champion
October 10, 1980 – September 21, 1985
Succeeded by
Michael Spinks
Inaugural Champion IBF Heavyweight Champion
December 11, 1983 – September 21, 1985
Awards
Preceded by
Sugar Ray Leonard and Salvador Sánchez
The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
1982
Succeeded by
Marvin Hagler
Preceded by
Ken Norton
BWAA Fighter of the Year
1978
Succeeded by
Sugar Ray Leonard

Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949) is a boxer.

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