Larry Holmes Enters Hall
Holmes Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
The Boxing Writer's Association of America inducted "The Easton Assassin" in his first year of eligibility. Holmes dominated the heavyweight division from 1978 to 1985.
The International boxing Hall of Fame and Museum in Canastota, New York announced that former world heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes, will take his place among the boxing greats enshrined there.
Holmes reigned over the division from June 1978, when he beat Ken Norton for the World Boxing Council belt, until September 1985 when Michael Spinks moved up from light heavyweight to dethrone him.
A one-time sparring partner for Muhammad Ali, Holmes had difficulty gaining respect from fight fans and journalists alike as he was often thought of as a lesser version of Ali. Although Holmes beat a faded Ali in 1980, it wasn't until the division struggled through the lean post-Tyson years that Holmes abilities were appreciated.
Though Holmes record was impressive during his title reign, with names like Norton, Ali, Trevor Berbick, Scott Ladoux, Ernie Shavers and more, what might be more impressive is the boxing knowledge and shear strength of will he showed later in his career.
After consecutive losses to Spinks, Holmes came back from a two year layoff only to be dispatched by a prime Mike Tyson in four rounds. Three years later, Holmes put the gloves back on and eventually defeated the powerful1988 Olympic Gold Medalist, Ray Mercer, setting up a showdown with heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield on June, 6, 1992. Though he lost to Holyfield by unanimous decision, Holmes fought well and showed why he had been so dominant a decade earlier.
Besides the Ali and Spinks fights, victories over Gerry Cooney and Randall "Tex" Cobb framed Holmes' championship run of 21 consecutive defenses.
Against Cooney in June, 1982 Holmes fended off the Irish slugger's wide, left hooks and low blows until the 2:52 of the 13th when the Cooney's corner stopped the fight. A Don King promoted event, pre-fight hype and racial commentary threatened to overshadow the actual fight, but with Cooney getting off the canvas twice to pound the champion's body, and Holmes' determination to retain his title, the fight easily outpaced its publicity.
Holmes next fight, against the tough as leather Cobb, was the last professional fight called by Howard Cosell. Cosell had been deeply affected by the death of Duk Koo Kim after Kim's lightweight bout with Ray Mancini. With his theatrical foil, Muhammad Ali, out of boxing and suffering from what Cosell believed to be boxing induced Parkinson's disease, the outspoken broadcast legend was primed for a meltdown. The Cobb fight provided the heat.
Though courageous, Cobb didn't have the power to seriously hurt Holmes, and lacked the defensive skills to avoid the champions jab (one of the best jabs in the history of the sport) and accurate combinations. The beating Cosell witnessed (at one point, Holmes hit Cobb with 26 unanswered punches) led him to proclaim during the fight that he would never again work another professional prize fight.
A fair review of Holmes' career delivers him from under Ali's shadow and places him shoulder to shoulder with, not only the great Ali, but Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, and Jack Johnson.
