Editing Larry Holmes (section)

===Defeating Norton and winning WBC heavyweight championship===
{{main|Ken Norton vs. Larry Holmes}}
[[File:Larry Holmes awarded the Jaycees.jpg|thumb|Holmes with the [[United States Junior Chamber|Jaycees]] Ten Outstanding Young Men trophy in December 1979]]

Holmes met [[Ken Norton]] for the [[World Boxing Council|WBC Championship]] on June 9, 1978. After fourteen rounds, all three judges had the fight scored dead even at seven rounds each. Holmes rallied late in the fifteenth to win it on two scorecards and take the title by a split decision.<ref name="SI" />

In his first two title defenses, Holmes easily knocked out [[Alfredo Evangelista]] and [[Ossie Ocasio]]. His third was against future [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] Heavyweight Champion [[Mike Weaver (boxer)|Mike Weaver]], on June 22, 1979. With an uninspiring 19–8 record going into the fight, Weaver was lightly regarded. After ten tough rounds, Holmes dropped Weaver with a right uppercut late in round eleven. In the twelfth, Holmes immediately went on the attack, backing Weaver into the ropes and pounding him with powerful rights until the referee stepped in and stopped it. "This man knocked the devil out of me", Holmes said. "This man might not have had credit before tonight, but you'll give it to him now."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yeURAAAAIBAJ&pg=6600,3663550&dq=larry+holmes+mike+weaver&hl=en|work=The Spokesman-Review |title=Weaver hurts Holmes before bowing in 12|date=June 23, 1979|agency=Associated Press|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Three months later, on September 28, 1979, Holmes had a rematch with Shavers, who got a title shot by knocking out Norton in one round. Holmes dominated the first six rounds, but in the seventh, Shavers sent Holmes down with a devastating overhand right. Holmes got up, survived the round, and went on to punish Shavers in the eleventh round and the referee stopped the fight.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T3ciAAAAIBAJ&pg=1252,3176723&dq=larry+holmes+shavers&hl=en|work=The Argus-Press |title=Holmes Wins Wild Brawl|author=Will Grimsley|agency=Associated Press|date=September 29, 1979|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

His next three defenses were knockouts of Lorenzo Zanon, [[Leroy Jones (boxer)|Leroy Jones]], and [[Scott LeDoux]].