Born :
3rd November 1949, Cuthbert, Georgia.
Height
: 6 Feet 3 Inches.
Weight :
210 Lbs to 260 Lbs.
Pro
Debut : 21st March 1973, Scranton, Philadelphia, Won Pts 4
Rodell Dupree.
Record : 69-6 (44 Ko's)
Championship Record : 21-5 (15 Ko's)
Titles
: WBC Heavyweight Champion 1978 to 1983 and IBF Heavyweight Champion 1983 to
1985.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skills And Boxing Brain!
Rated 3rd on my All-Time Heavyweight list, Larry Holmes may be the
most underrated Heavyweight Champion of all time. Larry also had the
misfortune of having to follow on from "The Greatest" -
Muhammad Ali, and also did himself no favours when in 1980 he beat
Muhammad in 10 rounds in Ali's final Championship fight.
Larry Holmes was a superb Heavyweight Champion and made a total of 20
succesfull defences of the championship, whilst being virtually
unbeatable throughout his 7 year reign at the top. He also managed to
run his unbeaten record to 48-0 during this time and was within one win
of matching Rocky Marciano's 49-0 mark, which still remains intact
today.
Larry Holmes was never really appreciated for
the skill he possessed. Every time he was congratulated there was
someone saying he was no Muhammad Ali. It's true he was no Ali, but no
one else was either. Holmes was a great tactician in the ring, he would
box if he had to, slug if he wanted to and fight inside if he needed a
knockout, which was rare. Very few heavyweights ever were as adaptable
as Holmes was, being able to change styles for his benefit.
The jab was the ever constant reminder that the
fighter you were you were watching was indeed Larry Holmes. Holmes
started his career in 1973 at the age of 24 which is relatively old. He
missed out on the majority of the 70's greats because he was still
fighting prelims when the greats were fighting each other. Thankfully a
couple of the 70's greats were still fighting when Holmes reached his
prime so that some comparisons could made. Holmes early in his career
didn't fight the best competition. He was 22-0 when stepping against Tom
Prater in a WBC first round elimination bout. Holmes used his jab and
right cross effectively in getting the decision.
After this Holmes was close to fighting
for the title. He had to fight the great puncher Earnie Shavers. This
fight was for the right to fight Ken Norton for the title. After Holmes
beat his first heavyweight of the 70's fighter another was in his way.
Ken Norton was given the Title after Muhammad Ali retired and his first
defense was against Larry Holmes. Holmes and Norton went to war and the
split decision went Holmes way. Holmes went on to make 19 straight title
defenses. He beat Earnie Shavers again in a war in which Shavers
delivered a crushing blow that only a fighter with a lot of heart could
survive. Holmes did and turned the tables four rounds later knocking out
Shavers in the 11th. He then took on a shot Muhammad Ali who tried hard
but wasn't up to Holmes at this stage of their careers.
Holmes then went to work clearing out the
division. He beat Trevor Berbick, Leon Spinks, Gerry Cooney and Tex Cobb
among others. He then faced the underrated Tim Witherspoon in 1983.
Witherspoon staged a rally that fell just short with the judges giving a
split decision win to Holmes, at this point Holmes was 43-0 and just 6
wins from tying Rocky Marciano's 49-0 undefeated record. He got the
first 5 over the likes of James (Bonecrusher) Smith and Carl (The Truth)
Williams. He was on the cusp of tying the record when he fought
undefeated light heavyweight champ Michael Spinks. Holmes was 36 years
old for this fight which a lot of people fail to realize, and he lost
his first fight to Spinks. His speed was slowing down and this
effectively ends the real career of Larry Holmes. He boxes until this
day, but since about 1988 has been more a curiosity then legit
contender. He did beat Ray Mercer in a surprise, but has lost to people
like Oliver Mccall who would have been destroyed in the early 80's.
Larry even came back earlier in 2002 to beat
the huge Eric "Butterbean" Esch on a unanimous ten round
decision, A
great underrated champ "The Eaton Assassin", Larry Holmes.
Also take a look at 'Larry
Holmes - A Fans Perspective' By Paul Driscoll.
Larry
Holmes Complete Professional Record.
All Records From www.boxrec.com.
|
