40 Facts About Larry Holmes

1. Larry Holmes is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002.

2. In 1988, Larry Holmes decided to come out of retirement and step back into the boxing ring.

3. In 1978, Larry Holmes silenced his critics when he defeated heavily-favored Earnie Shavers in a stirring 12-round bout.

4. Larry Holmes tried to win a spot on the US Olympic boxing team in 1972, but was disqualified in the finals for holding.

5. In 1971, Larry Holmes was chosen as one of the sparring partners for Joe Frazier, who was training for his first fight with Muhammad Ali.

6. In 2005 Larry Holmes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

7. In 1988 Larry Holmes decided to come out of retirement and step back into the boxing ring.

8. In 1978 Larry Holmes silenced his critics when he defeated the heavily favored Earnie Shavers in a stirring twelve-round bout.

9. In 1973 Larry Holmes went to work as a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali.

10. Larry Holmes accepted the offer, but refused to receive any medical treatment for his eye.

11. In 1971 Larry Holmes was chosen as one of the sparring partners for Joe Frazier, who was training for his first fight with Muhammad Ali.

12. In 1992, after beating opponent Ray Mercer, Larry Holmes advanced to the title bout with Evander Holyfield, who defeated him in a decision.

13. Larry Holmes came out of retirement in 1986, only to lose a rematch to Michael Spinks.

14. Larry Holmes won in 11 rounds, cementing his claim as world heavyweight champion.

15. On October 2, 1980, Larry Holmes faced the celebrated Ali, who at age 38 was mounting a comeback.

16. Larry Holmes defended the title 17 times between 1978 and 1983, defeating such formidable boxers as Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, and Gerry Cooney.

17. Larry Holmes spent the early part of his professional career fighting under Butler, but he eventually split from his mentor and worked with a host of other trainers and managers, including Don King.

18. Larry Holmes was born on November 3, 1949, in Cuthbert, Georgia.

19. Larry Holmes was brilliant on that final drive, securing three catches for 67 yards to get Pittsburgh into the red zone.

20. Larry Holmes was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

21. When he retired from boxing, Larry Holmes employed more than 200 people through his various business holdings.

22. Larry Holmes invested the money he earned from boxing and settled in his hometown of Easton.

23. Larry Holmes defeated Eric "Butterbean" Esch by a 10-round unanimous decision.

24. On January 24, 1997, Larry Holmes got his last opportunity to fight for a heavyweight championship when he traveled to Copenhagen to fight undefeated International Boxing Organization champion Brian Nielsen.

25. Larry Holmes pulled off the upset and won by a 12-round unanimous decision.

26. Larry Holmes got up, but Tyson put him down two more times in the round, and the fight was stopped.

27. On January 22, 1988, Larry Holmes was lured out of retirement by a $2.8 million purse to challenge reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson.

28. Larry Holmes had a rematch with Spinks on April 19, 1986.

29. Larry Holmes emerged with a close, and disputed, fifteen-round unanimous decision.

30. Larry Holmes was promised $13 million and Coetzee was promised $8 million.

31. Larry Holmes was making $3.1 million to fight Frazier and felt he should get as much as $5 million to fight Page.

32. On September 10, 1983, Larry Holmes successfully defended the WBC title for the sixteenth time, knocking out Scott Frank in five rounds.

33. Larry Holmes got up, but his trainer, Victor Valle, stepped into the ring and stopped the fight.

34. Larry Holmes seemed to show signs of regret, or at least sadness, in punishing Ali so much during the fight.

35. Larry Holmes appeared in a post-fight interview with tears in his eyes.

36. Larry Holmes dominated Ali from start to finish, winning every round on every scorecard.

37. Larry Holmes got up, survived the round, and went on to stop Shavers in the eleventh.

38. Larry Holmes dominated the first six rounds, but in the seventh, Shavers sent Holmes down with a devastating overhand right.

39. Larry Holmes was the fourth of twelve children born to John and Flossie Holmes.

40. Larry Holmes made 20 successful title defenses, placing him third all time, behind only Joe Louis at 25 and Wladimir Klitschko at 22.