Larry Holmes

Born: 1949-11-03

Larry Holmes is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which led to his boxing nickname of the Easton Assassin. Holmes, whose left jab is rated among the best in boxing history, held the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 to 1983, The Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight titles from 1980 to 1985, and the inaugural IBF heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985. During his only title reign, he defended his title against 19 fighters, the second most in history behind Joe Louis. He also holds the record for the longest individual heavyweight title streak in the modern boxing history. Holmes is one of only five boxers—along with Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and Trevor Berbick—to defeat Muhammad Ali; he is the only one to have stopped Ali. Holmes won his first 48 professional bouts, including victories over Norton, Ali, Earnie Shavers, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon, Carl Williams and Marvis Frazier. He fell one short of matching Rocky Marciano's career record of 49–0 when he lost to Michael Spinks in an upset in 1985. Holmes retired after losing a rematch to Spinks the following year, but made repeated comebacks. He was unsuccessful in three further attempts (against Mike Tyson in 1988, Evander Holyfield in 1992 and Oliver McCall in 1995) to regain the heavyweight title. Holmes fought for the final time in 2002, aged 52, against the 334lb Eric "Butterbean" Esch, and ended his career with a record of 69 wins and 6 losses. He is frequently ranked as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and has been inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame. When Holmes was nineteen, he started boxing. In his twenty-first bout, he boxed Nick Wells in the semifinals of the 1972 National Olympic Trials in Fort Worth, Texas. Wells, a southpaw known for unprecedently high knockout-to-win percentage for an amateur boxer, with a majority of knockouts coming in the first round, stopped Holmes in the first round. Nevertheless, Holmes was chosen by a selection committee of the National Olympic authorities to fight at the Olympic Box-offs in West Point, New York, where he had a match-up versus a fighting seaman Duane Bobick. 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 could not 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. 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.[citation needed] Holmes currently co-hosts a talk show What The Heck Were They Thinking?


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Facing Ali

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Half Nelson

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Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson

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Glory Years

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Earnie Shavers

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Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick

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Released: 1986-11-22

TYSON WINS W.B.C. CHAMPIONSHIP LAS VEGAS, Nev., Nov. 22— Mike Tyson made history tonight. The...

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Thrilla in Manila

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Released: 2008-11-11

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Tommy

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Co-directed by Gentry Kirby and Erin Leyden, “Tommy” examines Morrison’s remarkable rise to the...

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Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes

as Self
Released: 1988-01-22

On January 22, 1988, Holmes was lured out of retirement to challenge reigning Undisputed World...

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Muhammad and Larry

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Released: 2009-10-27

In October of 1980 Muhammad Ali was preparing to fight for an unprecedented fourth heavyweight...

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Champions Forever

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Released: 1989-11-01

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Muhammad and Larry

as uncredited
Released: 1980-01-01

Through the poetic lens of visionary filmmakers Albert and David Maysles, Muhammad and Larry...

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Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney

as uncredited
Released: 1982-06-11

Larry Holmes defends his WBC heavyweight crown for the 12th time from challenger Gerry Cooney on...

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Champions Forever - World Heavyweight Champs!

as Himself
Released: 2000-05-17

Previously unseen footage, seeing and hearing the champions interviewed and talking to each...

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Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney

as Self
Released:

Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney was a heavyweight boxing match that took place on June 11, 1982,...

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Larry Holmes vs. Lucien Rodriguez

as uncredited
Released: 1983-03-27

Undefeated Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes comes home to Pennsylvania to make the fourteenth...

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Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes

as uncredited
Released: 1995-04-08

Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes, billed as "Burden of Proof", was a professional boxing match...

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Naked Sport: Welcome to the Sewer

as Self
Released: 1993-05-01

Produced by PBS in 1992, this documentary explores the darker side of boxing. It follows the...

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Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali

as Self
Released: 1980-10-02

Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as "The Last Hurrah!", was a professional boxing bout...

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Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks

as Self
Released: 1985-09-21

As heavyweight championship bouts go, the Sept. 21, 1985, first pairing of long-reigning Larry...

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Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks II

as Self
Released: 1986-04-19

IBF Champion Michael Spinks meets former champion Larry Holmes.

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Larry Holmes vs. Leon Spinks

as Self
Released: 1981-06-12

Larry Holmes defends his WBC heavyweight crown for the 10th time from challenger Leon Spinks on...

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Larry Holmes vs. Garing Lane

as uncredited
Released: 1994-03-08

Took place on Tuesday 8, March 1994 at Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket.

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The Mike Douglas Show

as Self
First aired: 1961-12-11

The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...

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Saturday Night Live

as Self (uncredited)
First aired: 1975-10-11

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The...

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The Dick Cavett Show

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1968-06-06

The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various...

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The Simpsons

as uncredited
First aired: 1989-12-17

Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday...

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30 for 30

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First aired: 2009-10-06

30 for 30 is the umbrella title for a series of documentary films airing on ESPN and its sister...

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