Some fighters cannot help the era that they box in. It was Larry Holmes’ misfortune to follow the self proclaimed ‘Greatest’ Muhammad Ali as world heavyweight champion and was therefore doomed to live in his shadow. Like Ezzard Charles before him who succeeded the great ‘Brown Bomber’ Joe Louis, Larry Holmes would always have to work hard for the recognition and respect that his undoubted talents deserved.

Born on 3 November 1949 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA Holmes was one of twelve children. The family moved to Easton, Pennsylvania in 1957 and Holmes’ parents later split up. His father still contributed but Holmes was largely raised by his mother and the large family survived on welfare. For Holmes it was an early harsh lesson in life and the importance of self-reliance and responsibility. Leaving school at an early age he worked at a car wash for $1 an hour and later drove a dump truck and worked in a quarry. This blue collar background undoubtedly shaped the young Holmes and he was a strong minded and independent individual who soon had a young family of his own to support.

Surprisingly he was not outstanding as an amateur boxer being disqualified for holding against Duane Bobick in the 1972 Olympic trials. He had competed in twenty two amateur contests but at twenty three and with financial obligations pressing he turned professional. He steadily built up an impressive early record whilst learning his craft by acting as sparring partner for the best heavyweights of the 1970s that included Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers. Holmes soon realised that if he could hold his own with such esteemed company then surely his time at the top would come.

A new Larry Holmes began to emerge as he grew in confidence and ability. He already possessed perhaps the finest jabs in the history of the heavyweight division. Over the years he would also prove to have exceptional skill, poise, courage, determination and will power to become the number one heavyweight in the world. He had to wait for his big chance winning all of his 26 bouts in five years with 22 of those victories coming inside the distance (yes, Holmes could bang a bit too!)

Upsetting the fearsome puncher Earnie Shavers in a lopsided points decision in March 1978 Holmes found himself moving from contender and sparring partner to number one contender for the world crown. He had done it all by grafting and learning, there were no favours, and everything he had achieved he had done it himself.

The world title fight for the WBC version of the heavyweight title was against tough ex-marine Ken Norton who had broken the jaw of a certain Muhammad Ali a few years previously on the way to an upset points win. The contest was held at Las Vegas on 10 June 1978. It has gone down in boxing folklore as one of the most exciting and gruelling heavyweight title fights in history. Both men had to dig deep within themselves in an epic give and take battle with no quarter given. After fourteen rounds the contest was in the balance and a big final effort from Holmes showing his character and fortitude assuring victory for the hungry twenty eight year old as he went toe to toe with Norton to take the fifteenth in a breathtaking finale.

All the effort and years of waiting had finally paid off. The boxer nicknamed ‘The Easton Assassin’ had arrived on the world scene and had just emerged victorious after taking on one of the most formidable heavyweight boxers of the 1970s. From November 1978 to July 1980 Holmes successfully defended his WBC portion of the world crown seven times including an impressive twelfth round stoppage victory over future WBA champion Mike Weaver and a rematch with Earnie Shavers where Holmes showed tremendous heart in getting off the canvas after taking a monstrous overhand right from the hard hitting contender to eventually win on an eleventh round stoppage. Holmes was paying his dues and meeting and defeating all comers.

The spectre of Muhammad Ali still loomed over Holmes even though he had proved that he was the best heavyweight in the world. Ali wanted to win the world heavyweight title for an unprecedented fourth time and a reluctant Holmes fought the ageing former champion on 2 October 1980. That night Holmes won new plaudits by showing compassion towards the older man. He could have blasted Ali out early but instead Holmes held back and outboxed and out-jabbed his 38 year old opponent until Ali’s corner pulled him out after the tenth round. It was a sad night for boxing but thanks to Holmes respect and class a bigger tragedy was avoided.

Those that had not given Holmes credit before now sat up and noticed: Here was a boxer with genuine ringcraft, who could take a punch and come back and who could deliver a knockout blow with either hand. It was not just the jab that proved a formidable weapon; Holmes also possessed a hook, a cross and a devastating uppercut in his arsenal.

He defeated future world champion Trevor Berbick on points in his next contest and then destroyed Ali’s one time conqueror Leon Spinks in three painfully one-sided rounds. Next Holmes showed his tremendous courage and durability by getting off the canvas in the seventh (Holmes’ bad luck round!) against hard hitting contender Renaldo Snipes. Holmes not only recovered from a punch that would have pole-axed lesser men, but he proceeded to pound Snipes into helpless submission in the eleventh.

Next up was a contest against the much hyped hard-hitting left hooker Irish-American Gerry Cooney on 11 June 1982 at Las Vegas. It was shades of Jack Johnson versus James J Jeffries all over again and although Cooney hated the ‘White Hope’ tag the two boxers were nevertheless getting the same pay day of $10 million dollars despite the fact that Holmes was the champion and Cooney the challenger! It has also been alleged that there was a telephone installed in Cooney’s dressing room for President Ronald Regan to congratulate him if he emerged victorious. Notably no such arrangement was made in Holmes’ dressing room. Another insult for the champion was that instead of Holmes name being announced last as is customary, it was Cooney, the challenger’s name that was announced last.

Holmes understandably bristled at all of this and must have been harbouring a great deal of resentment. Here was a professional who had paid his dues over the years and in a magnificent career so far had remained unbeaten and compiled this record against the world’s best only to share the spotlight with granted, a decent contender, but someone who had a manufactured record that looked great on paper but really was built up against padded opposition and boxers who had seen better days (For example Cooney knocked out Ken Norton in one round in 1981 when Norton was clearly a long way past his prime).

Cooney fought bravely and he did appear to shake Holmes once early but apart from that rare success Holmes was the boss, jabbing the huge challenger with ease. Cooney repeatedly sunk painful hooks below the champion’s belt having a total of three points deducted by the referee for these fouls; it is debatable whether any other contender apart from Cooney would have avoided disqualified for these repeated fouls. Holmes showed character by not complaining and stoically getting on with it. After 13 rounds a battered, exhausted and utterly outclassed Cooney was stopped.

Holmes’ next two defences were similarly one-sided as he pounded Randall ‘Tex’ Cobb and Lucien Rodriguez. Holmes received quite a shock against future champion ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon. When they met on 23 May 1983 Witherspoon was a twenty five year old fifteen fight contender still wearing ‘L’ plates yet he gave Holmes his sternest test in years taking the thirty three year old champion to the wire in losing a split twelve round decision. Many commentators and experts were of the opinion that Holmes was beginning to slip a little pointing to the fact that his last three contests had all gone the distance and that Witherspoon a mere novice had given him all that he could handle. It would later emerge that Witherspoon was a fine boxer (when motivated) and the points win would flatter Holmes in the long run.

Holmes returned to winning inside the distance as he brushed aside Scott Frank in five rounds and then Joe Frazier’s son, Marvis in one. Sixteen days after the Frazier fight Holmes relinquished his WBC title and was promptly appointed champion by a new rival governing body the International Boxing Federation (IBF). Although there were now three claimants to the world title the thirty four year old Holmes had beaten everyone of any note and was widely regarded as the best. He was still unbeaten and was on the way to being regarded as an all time great.

Holmes defended his new crown against the hard hitting future WBA champion (and appropriately named) James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith winning by a twelfth round stoppage. Next he defeated David ‘Hand Grenade’ Bey in the tenth before struggling against Carl ‘The Truth’ Williams in a fight that was eerily similar to the Tim Witherspoon fight. The fifteen fight novice was taller, younger and quicker than Holmes and it was a tough battle. Holmes’ better boxing ultimately took the close, disputed verdict of the judges but the champion had the indignity of ending the contest with a nasty looking swollen shut eye and it really did look like ‘Father Time’ was finally catching up with him.

With a record of 48 fights and 48 wins as well as 20 successful defences of his world title (only Joe Louis had made more successful defences) Holmes had nothing left to prove. He was already considered an all-time great, yet one statistic just would not go away: that of former world champion Rocky Marciano’s unbeaten 49 fight record.

Approaching thirty six years old and still chaffing under his perceived lack of acclaim Holmes dearly wanted to equal or beat Marciano’s record believing this would finally achieve that. The then Undisputed light-heavyweight world champion Michael Spinks challenged Holmes in a contest that either way would make history as a Holmes victory would equal Marciano’s record whereas a Spinks victory would be the first time a light-heavyweight champion had successfully moved up to take the heavyweight title.

As things transpired the fight held at the Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas on 20 September 1985 would see a strangely subdued and plodding Holmes unable to catch the dancing, evasive Spinks and after just over seven years as world champion Holmes lost for the first time in his professional career on points. It proved to be a bitterly disappointing evening and a distraught Holmes made some unfortunate ‘heat of the moment’ comments about Rocky Marciano which he quickly retracted. The damage was done however and it looked like the legacy that Holmes wanted was cruelly being denied him.

He announced his retirement but in 1986 could not resist the lure of a rematch. Arriving in Las Vegas Holmes again spoiled things for himself by insinuating that the Nevada judges were corrupt and he would need a knockout to win. As things turned out Holmes fought much better than he had in the first encounter, catching Spinks on several occasions and clearly shaking the champion to his boots. However, Holmes lost a highly controversial and contentious split points decision. Many at ringside believed Holmes had been unlucky, had his earlier comments come back to haunt him?

This time it really did look like the end, Holmes was an astute businessman outside of the ring and owned a beautiful house, a hotel, a night-club, a restaurant and a fleet of cars as well as millions saved in the bank. Unlike many other boxers Holmes was an extremely wealthy and comfortable man who did not need to fight on for financial reasons. He was a proud family man who had the respect of the boxing intelligentsia yet he could still not resist the pull of the boxing ring.

Yet on 22 January 1988 Holmes challenged the youngest man to win the world heavyweight title, the fearsome and sensational ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson. Much was made of the fact that Holmes was a 38 year old grandfather and the champion was only 21. Yet the underdog and veteran former champion put on a decent show for three and a half rounds, bloodying the nose of the young undisputed champion and giving a good account of himself.

Sadly things unravelled in the fourth round when Tyson finally got his measure of the vastly more experienced challenger. A frightening overhand right to Holmes’ temple deposited him to the canvas and this time it looked like there was no way he would get up. Yet, amazingly Holmes got back to his feet. He tried to fight back and clear his head but another big shot from Tyson floored Holmes again. He shocked everyone again, displaying huge courage and earning every cent of his $3 million purse when he got up again.

Holmes was in the act of throwing a right hook when his arm got tangled in the ropes in a final piece of bad luck which gave Tyson just the opening he needed: a final sickening right hook from Tyson knocked Holmes out, ending his brave but misguided challenge. After the contest Tyson was quick to sing the former champion’s praises saying ‘Larry Holmes was the greatest of our times’ and admitting that had they both fought in Holmes’ prime Tyson would have lost in a rare show of class from the young fighter. It was history repeating itself all over again like Marciano knocking out Joe Louis or Holmes beating Ali. Now it was Larry who was in the role of ageing great losing to a rising star.

Remarkably it was still not the last of Larry Holmes: boxer. In 1991 no doubt inspired by the success of another veteran fighter, George Foreman, Holmes returned to the ring posting five wins over moderate opposition. When he signed to fight the tough former army sergeant ‘Merciless’ Ray Mercer many experts sadly shook their heads believing that Holmes was on a hiding to nothing. Yet on a magical evening on 7 February 1992 the forty two year old former champion put on a boxing master-class to befuddle and outpoint his much younger dangerous foe who at the time was a ‘live’ contender and former world champion. For the first time Holmes rightly received the cheers and adoration of the fans who chanted ‘Larry! Larry!’ as he boxed his way to an upset points win. At long last his talents were being appreciated and that night Homes became something of a folk hero in seeing off a much younger opponent against the odds.

The surprise win set up the unthinkable: a world title shot against the undisputed champion Evander Holyfield. On 19 June 1992 Holmes gave the younger man all the trouble he could handle, cutting him over one eye in going down to a close points defeat. It was a moral victory of sorts and Holmes proved just how good he was, even in his forties he was good enough to compete with the best in the world.

He continued to box and to keep a world rating and was given another shot on 8 April 1995 for his old WBC title against Oliver ‘The Atomic Bull’ McCall. Holmes was now forty five years old, but that did not stop him from taking McCall all the way in another close points defeat for the former champion. Many now felt that Holmes had finally earned the kudos and respect that he craved and that he should now retire, but he continued to box showing plenty of young contenders how it was done at an advanced age (for athletes anyway).

On 24 January 1997 Holmes fought the popular Danish heavyweight boxer Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen, Denmark for the lightly regarded IBO world title. The undefeated Dane defeated Holmes on a split decision. Had the pair fought in Holmes’ prime it would have been no contest.

Holmes fought and defeated two old foes in ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith winning by stoppage in 8 rounds and Mike Weaver winning by stoppage in 6 rounds, but it was clear that the novelty was wearing off. What was he proving? It seemed that the old master could not face life away from boxing.

Finally at the age of fifty two when most people would not dream of entering a boxing ring Larry Holmes had the last fight of his glittering career. On 27 July 2002 at Norfolk, Virginia he fought the twenty three stone behemoth and self proclaimed ‘King of the Four Rounders’ Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch. There were plenty of concerned people who felt that Holmes was taking an unnecessary risk in taking on a much younger, stronger, hard-hitting opponent in Esch. Yet on the night Holmes again managed to use all of his skill, guile and cunning accumulated in a twenty nine year boxing career to outwit and outpoint Esch over ten rounds. Thankfully this was the ‘Grand Finale’ and Holmes at long last hung the gloves up for good.

In all my years as a boxing fan Larry Holmes has been the one figure that has shown what it makes to be a great champion: He had total control, complete mastery over his opponents as he circled and jabbed, holding the centre of the ring. He would steadily and assuredly probe for weaknesses in his opponents and systematically break them down. He also proved that he was capable of coming back from the brink, watch the fights against Earnie Shavers and Renaldo Snipes and ask yourself how many other heavyweight boxers would manage to not only get up from such shattering blows but also go on to win? Finally when most boxers are long retired and counting their hard-earned money (if they are lucky enough to hold on to it) Holmes was still competing with and beating men much younger than he was. He was still fighting at world class well into his forties, testament to his skill and ring generalship.

It is my belief that history will be kinder to Larry Holmes in the long run and he will be recognised as the great champion that he was. The experts already believe that as he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008 the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a boxer. Eventually I think the casual fans will also recognise Holmes greatness as well.

Great skill, great punch, great chin, great heart…all of these describe Holmes the fighter. I can think of only two other heavyweight boxers who are equal or arguably better than he was: Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. That is the measure and the legacy of this great boxer.

WBC and IBF World Heavyweight Champion: 1978 – 1985

World Title Fights: 26 Wins: 21 Lost: 5

Career Fights: 75 Wins: 69 Lost: 6 Knockouts: 44