Editing Larry Holmes (section)

===Early years===
After compiling an amateur record of 19–3, Holmes turned professional on March 21, 1973, winning a four-round decision against Rodell Dupree. Early in his career he worked as a sparring partner for [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Joe Frazier]], [[Earnie Shavers]], and [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]. He was paid well and learned a lot. "I was young, and I didn't know much. But I was holding my own sparring those guys", Holmes said. "I thought, 'hey, these guys are the best, the champs. If I can hold my own now, what about later?'"

Holmes first gained credibility as a contender when he upset the hard-punching [[Earnie Shavers]] in March 1978. Holmes won by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous decision, winning every round on two scorecards and all but one on the third. Holmes's victory over Shavers set up a title shot between Holmes and [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] Heavyweight Champion [[Ken Norton]] in [[Las Vegas]] on June 9, 1978.