Larry Holmes
World Heavyweight Champion
From 1973 to 1978 Holmes won 28 consecutive bouts, culminating in a victorious
15-round decision over reigning champion Ken Norton on June 9, 1978 for the World
Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight crown. Holmes defended the title 17 times between
1978 and 1983, defeating such formidable boxers as Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, and
Gerry Cooney. On Oct. 2, 1980, Holmes faced the celebrated Muhammad Ali, who, at
age 38, was mounting a comeback. Holmes won in 11 rounds, cementing his claim as
world heavyweight champion.
In 1983, amid ongoing disagreements with boxing promoter Don King, Holmes relinquished
his WBC title. The International Boxing Federation (IBF), however, still regarded
him as heavyweight champion, and he defended that title three times before losing
it to Michael Spinks in a 15-round decision on Sept. 21, 1985. Holmes retired after
the loss, his first in 49 bouts, which kept him from matching Rocky Marciano's career
record of 49-0.
Holmes came out of retirement to lose a rematch to Michael Spinks in 1986. In 1988
he again returned to the ring to take on heavyweight champion Mike Tyson; the referee
halted the fight in the fourth round after Holmes had endured three early knockdowns.
In the 1990s, after beating opponent Ray Mercer, Holmes advanced to the title bout
with Evander Holyfield, who defeated him in a decision. On April 8, 1995, he challenged
Oliver McCall for the WBC heavyweight crown but lost in 12 rounds.
| EVENT |
PLACE |
POINTS |
MONEY |
EVENT WINS |
| 1980 Preliminary 1 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| TOTALS |