Editing Larry Holmes

{{short description|American boxer (born 1949)}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Larry Holmes
| image =Larry Holmes 1996.jpg
| caption = Holmes in 1996
| nickname = The Easton Assassin
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| height = 6 ft 3 in
| reach = 81 in
| nationality = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|11|3}}
| birth_place = [[Cuthbert, Georgia]], U.S.
| style = [[orthodox (boxing)|Orthodox]]
| total = 75
| wins = 69
| KO = 44
| losses = 6
}} 
'''Larry Holmes''' (born November 3, 1949) is an American former [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1973 to 2002 and was world heavyweight champion from 1978 until 1985. He is often considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-24 |title=List of the 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time: Has Tyson Fury done enough to make the cut? {{!}} DAZN News UK |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-GB/news/boxing/list-of-the-10-greatest-heavyweight-boxers-of-all-time-has-tyson-fury-done-enough-to-make-the-cut/1kidkof72e5551shix9edh7gaq |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=DAZN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Doug |date=2016-02-10 |title=Bill Caplan's 20 greatest heavyweights |url=https://www.ringtv.com/410833-bill-caplans-20-greatest-heavyweights/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=The Ring}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-03 |title=The Best Heavyweights Of All Time, Named And Ranked |url=https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/best-heavyweight-boxers-of-all-time-20210818 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=SPORTbible |language=en}}</ref> He grew up in [[Easton, Pennsylvania]], which led to his boxing nickname of "'''the Easton Assassin'''".

Holmes's left [[jab]] is often rated among the best in heavyweight boxing history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3428006|title=10 things to still appreciate about Larry Holmes |work=ESPN.com|date=6 June 2008 |access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> In addition to holding the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 to 1983, 
Holmes held the ''[[The Ring (magazine)|Ring]]'' magazine and [[lineal championship|lineal]] heavyweight titles from 1980 to 1985<ref name=CBZ>{{cite web|title=Larry Holmes|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/larry.htm|publisher=Cyber Boxing Zone|access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> and the inaugural [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19631212&id=GbhTAAAAIBAJ&pg=4423,7166456&hl=en|title=The Bryan Times|via=Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=2016-02-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Larry_Holmes|title=Larry Holmes|website=Boxrec.com|access-date=2016-02-25}}</ref>

Holmes won his first 48 professional bouts, including victories over [[Ken Norton]] (the man he defeated in 1978 for the WBC championship), [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Earnie Shavers]], [[Mike Weaver (boxer)|Mike Weaver]], [[Gerry Cooney]], [[Tim Witherspoon]], [[Carl Williams (boxer)|Carl Williams]], and [[Marvis Frazier]]. Holmes fell one short of matching [[Rocky Marciano]]'s career record of 49–0 when he lost to [[Michael Spinks]] in a 1985 upset. Holmes retired after losing a rematch to Spinks the following year but made repeated comebacks. He was unsuccessful in four further comeback attempts (against [[Mike Tyson]] in 1988, [[Evander Holyfield]] in 1992, [[Oliver McCall]] in 1995 and [[Brian Nielsen (boxer)|Brian Nielsen]] in 1997) to regain a variation of the heavyweight title. Holmes fought for the final time in 2002, at age 52, against the 334lb [[Eric "Butterbean" Esch]] and ended his career with a record of 69 wins and 6 losses, with all of his losses coming in world title fights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=000150&cat=boxer|title=Larry Holmes – Boxer|publisher=boxrec.com|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Holmes is frequently ranked as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coxscorner.tripod.com/heavylists.htm|title=Boxing: Historians Rankings of The Great Heavyweights|publisher=tripod.com|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> and has been inducted into both the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] and World Boxing Hall of Fame. He is the only boxer to have defeated Muhammad Ali by [[Corner retirement|stoppage]], a 38 year-old Ali in 1980, and the last living boxer to have defeated him.

==Early life==
Holmes was the fourth of twelve children born to John and Flossie Holmes. In 1954, the family moved to [[Easton, Pennsylvania]], in the [[Lehigh Valley]] region on the state’s border with [[New Jersey]]. Holmes' father went to [[Connecticut]], where he visited the family every three weeks and worked as a gardener until his death in 1970. "He didn't forsake us", said Flossie Holmes. "He just didn't have anything to give." The family survived on welfare. To help support his family, Holmes dropped out of school when he was in the seventh grade and went to work at a car wash for $1 an hour. He later drove a dump truck and worked in a Lehigh Valley quarry.<ref name="SI">{{cite magazine|author=Pat Putnam |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1094267/index.htm |title=Don't Hate 'em Just Hit 'em |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=November 6, 1978 |access-date=February 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026124608/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1094267/index.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2012 }}</ref>

==Amateur career==
Holmes began boxing at age 18. In his twenty-first bout, he faced [[Nick Wells]] in the semifinals of the 1972 National [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic]] Trials in [[Fort Worth, Texas]]. Wells, a southpaw known for an unprecedentedly high knockout-to-win ratio for an amateur, heavily ending bouts in the first round, added another with Holmes. Nevertheless, Holmes was chosen by a selection committee of the [[United States Olympic Committee|National Olympic authorities]] to fight at the Olympic box-offs at [[West Point, New York]], where he had a match-up versus [[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 round 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wxAdAABAAIBAJ&pg=4302,648460&dq=bobick+larry-holmes&hl=en|work=The Tuscaloosa News |agency=Associated Press|title=Bobick Captures Olympic Berth|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===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.

===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]].

===Defeating Ali===
{{main|Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali}}
On October 2, 1980, at [[Caesars Palace]] in Las Vegas, Holmes defended his title against [[Muhammad Ali]], who was coming out of retirement in an attempt to become the first four-time world heavyweight champion. Holmes dominated the 38-year-old Ali, winning every round on all three judges' scorecards. At the end of the tenth round, Ali's trainer stepped in to stop the fight as Holmes was inflicting major blows on Ali, handing Ali the only stoppage defeat of his career.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123840/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010183243/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123840/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 10, 2010|title=Doom In The Desert|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=October 13, 1980|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> After the win, Holmes received recognition as [[List of The Ring world champions|World Heavyweight Champion]] by [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']].

Ali blamed his poor performance on thyroid medication which he had been taking, saying that it helped him lose weight (he weighed 217½, his lowest weight since he fought [[George Foreman]] in 1974), but it also left him drained for the fight.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A34fAAAAIBAJ&pg=2067,3307959&dq=holmes+ali+thyroid&hl=en|work=The Pittsburgh Press |title=Ali Reportedly Used Drug to Lose Weight|agency=UPI|date=October 6, 1980|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Holmes seemed to show signs of sadness in punishing Ali so much during the fight. Tears appeared in Holmes's eyes during a post-fight interview. When asked why he was crying, he said that he respected Ali "a whole lot" and "he fought one of the baddest heavyweights in the world today, and you cannot take credit from him."<ref>{{YouTube|C0N6NTUbWFA}}</ref>

Holmes's trainer [[Richie Giachetti]] called Holmes's pummeling of Ali "awful&nbsp;... the worst sports event I ever had to cover." Actor [[Sylvester Stallone]] was ringside for the fight and said that it was like watching an autopsy on a man who is still alive. The Holmes fight is said to have contributed to Ali's [[Parkinsonism|Parkinson's]] syndrome.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/arts/television/27muhammad.html |work=The New York Times |title=Boxing King Casts His Shadow, Even at Time of Defeat |date=October 26, 2009 |access-date=March 5, 2012 |first1=Mike |last1=Hale}}</ref>

===Defeating Berbick, Leon Spinks & Snipes===
{{main|Larry Holmes vs. Leon Spinks}}
After eight consecutive knockouts, Holmes was forced to go the distance when he successfully defended his title against future WBC Heavyweight Champion [[Trevor Berbick]] on April 11, 1981. In his next fight, two months later, Holmes knocked out former Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion [[Leon Spinks]] in three rounds. On November 6, 1981, Holmes rose from a seventh-round knockdown, during which he staggered into the turnbuckle, to stop [[Renaldo Snipes]] in the eleventh.

===Defeating Cooney===
{{Main article|Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney}}
On June 11, 1982, Holmes defended his title against [[Gerry Cooney]], the undefeated #1 contender and an [[Irish-American]]. The lead-up to the fight had many racial overtones, with promoter [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]] and others hyping Cooney as the "[[wikt:great white hope|Great White Hope]]." Holmes said that if Cooney wasn't white, he would not be getting the same purse as the champion (both boxers received $10 million for the bout).<ref name=USAToday /> Although Cooney tried to deflect questions about race, members of his camp wore shirts that said "Not the White Man, but the Right Man."<ref name=USAToday /> In their fight previews, ''Sports Illustrated'' and ''Time'' put Cooney on the cover, not Holmes. Boxing tradition dictates that the champion be introduced last, but the challenger, Cooney, was introduced last.<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2007-06-30-3180160253_x.htm|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|title=Holmes and Cooney recall divisive fight|date=June 30, 2007|first=Time|last=Dahlberg}}</ref>

The bout was held in a 32,000-seat stadium erected in a Caesar's Palace Parking lot, with millions more watching around the world. After an uneventful first round, Holmes dropped Cooney with a right in the second. Cooney came back well in the next two rounds, jarring Holmes with his powerful left hook. Holmes later said that Cooney "hit me so damned hard, I felt it—boom—in my bones."<ref name=Tallent /> Cooney was tiring by the ninth, a round in which he had two points deducted for low blows. In the tenth, they traded punches relentlessly. At the end of the round, the two nodded to each other in respect.<ref name=Tallent /> Cooney lost another point because of low blows in the eleventh. By then, Holmes was landing with ease. In the thirteenth, a barrage of punches sent Cooney down. He got up, but his trainer, Victor Valle, stepped into the ring and stopped the fight.<ref name=Tallent />

After the fight, Holmes and Cooney became close friends.<ref name=Tallent>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3174/larry-holmes-gerry-cooney/|archive-date=February 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221080821/http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/3174/larry-holmes-gerry-cooney/|title=Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney|first=Aaron |last=Tallent|date=June 9, 2006|work=TheSweetScience.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/06/11/larry-holmes-and-gerry-cooney-foes-for-a-night-friends-for-a-lifetime/ |title=Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney: Foes for a Night, Friends for a Lifetime |work=Worldboxing101.com |access-date=February 25, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227022936/http://www.worldboxing101.com/2012/06/11/larry-holmes-and-gerry-cooney-foes-for-a-night-friends-for-a-lifetime/ |archive-date=February 27, 2016 }}</ref>

===Trouble with the WBC===
{{Main article|Larry Holmes vs. Tim Witherspoon}}
Holmes's next two fights were one-sided decision wins over [[Randall "Tex" Cobb]] and  ex-European champion  Lucien Rodriguez. On May 20, 1983, Holmes defended his title against [[Tim Witherspoon]], the future WBC and WBA  Heavyweight Champion. Witherspoon, a six to one underdog and with only 15 professional bouts to his name, surprised many by giving Holmes a difficult fight. After twelve rounds, Holmes retained the title by a disputed split decision.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120871/4/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026130341/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1120871/4/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2012|title=Holmes Really Had a Spoonful|author=Pat Putnam|date=May 30, 1983|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

On September 10, 1983, Holmes successfully defended the WBC title for the sixteenth time, knocking out [[Scott Frank (boxer)|Scott Frank]] in five rounds. Holmes then signed to fight [[Marvis Frazier]], son of [[Joe Frazier]], on November 25, 1983. The WBC refused to sanction the fight against the unranked Frazier. They ordered Holmes to fight [[Greg Page (boxer)|Greg Page]], the #1 contender, or be stripped of the title. Promoter [[Don King (boxing promoter)|Don King]] offered Holmes $2.55 million to fight Page, but the champion didn't think that was enough. He was making $3.1 million to fight Frazier and felt he should get as much as $5 million to fight Page.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8KMyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1379,2360852&dq=marvis-frazier+greg+page+2.55&hl=en |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227022939/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8KMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bu8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1379,2360852&dq=marvis-frazier+greg+page+2.55&hl=en |archive-date=February 27, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Holmes had an easy time with Frazier, knocking him out in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RaQyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2803,3084162&dq=larry+holmes+marvis+frazier&hl=e |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312082655/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RaQyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P-8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2803,3084162&dq=larry+holmes+marvis+frazier&hl=e |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following month, Holmes relinquished the WBC championship.

===IBF heavyweight champion===
Despite his no longer being recognized by the WBC as champion, Holmes was still regarded as the lineal champion as well as being recognized as world champion by ''The Ring''. On December 11, 1983, the newly formed [[International Boxing Federation]] extended recognition to Holmes, and he accepted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?hl=en|archive-date=July 11, 2012|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120711085957/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SzUtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ir4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=1334%2C4129623&dq=larry+holmes+international+boxing+federation&hl=en|url-status=dead|title=Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=January 29, 2021}}</ref>

As 1984 began, Holmes and [[Gerrie Coetzee]], the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] champion, were signed to unify the titles on June 15, 1984, at Caesars Palace. The fight was being promoted by JPD Inc., but it was canceled when Caesars Palace said the promoters failed to meet the financial conditions of the contract. Holmes was promised $13 million and Coetzee was promised $8 million. Even after cutting the purses dramatically, they still couldn't come up with enough financial backing to stage the fight.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8WMeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2709,1128942&dq=larry+holmes+gerrie+coetzee&hl=en|work=Times Daily |title=On Again, Off Again Fight May Be On Again|date=July 3, 1984|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> Don King then planned to promote the fight, but Holmes lost a lawsuit filed by Virginia attorney Richard Hirschfeld, who said he had a contract with Holmes that gave him right of first refusal on a Holmes-Coetzee bout. Holmes then decided to move on and fight someone else.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZGoVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3975,4615380&dq=larry+holmes+gerrie+coetzee&hl=en|work=Eugene Register-Guard |title=Holmes signs for title fight in November|agency=Associated Press|date=September 19, 1984|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

On November 9, 1984, after a year out of the ring, Holmes made his first defense of the IBF title, stopping [[James "Bonecrusher" Smith]] on a cut in the twelfth round. In the first half of 1985, Holmes stopped [[David Bey]] in ten rounds for his 19th title defense. His next against [[Carl "The Truth" Williams]] was unexpectedly tough. The younger, quicker Williams was able to out-jab the aging champion, who was left with a badly swollen eye by the end of the bout. Holmes emerged with a close, and disputed, fifteen-round unanimous decision.

===Holmes vs. Michael Spinks 1 & 2===
Holmes's next fight had the potential to make boxing history. He agreed to terms to fight [[Michael Spinks]], the undisputed champion at [[light heavyweight]], for his twentieth world title defense September 21, 1985. A victory for Holmes would have tied [[Rocky Marciano]]'s mark of 49 consecutive wins without a loss. Spinks, meanwhile, was looking to join [[Bob Fitzsimmons]] as the only other boxer at the time to win titles at both light heavyweight and heavyweight. In addition, if he defeated Holmes, Spinks would become the first ever reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title.

Before the fight [[Archie Moore]], the long-time light heavyweight champion who unsuccessfully challenged for the heavyweight crown himself twice, predicted an easy win for Holmes: "I'm afraid Larry will chew him up. Michael may be faster than Larry, but you can only go so fast."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Liebman|first1=Glenn|title=Boxing Shorts|date=1996|publisher=Contemporary Books, Inc.|location=Chicago, IL|isbn=0-8092-3216-2|page=16}}</ref> Despite the assessment, it indeed would be Spinks whose historical destiny would be fulfilled, as he defeated Holmes via unanimous decision to become the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119942/1/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026130350/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119942/1/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2012|title=Michael Played the Heavy|author=Pat Putnam|date=September 30, 1985|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> After the fight, a bitter Holmes said, "Rocky Marciano couldn't carry my jockstrap."

Holmes had a rematch with Spinks on April 19, 1986. Spinks retained the title with a disputed fifteen-round split decision. The judges scored the fight: Judge [[Joe Cortez]] 144–141 (Holmes), Judge Frank Brunette 141–144 (Spinks) and Judge Jerry Roth 142–144 (Spinks.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Larry_Holmes_vs._Michael_Spinks_%282nd_meeting%29
|title=Holmes vs Spinks 2nd Fight Scorecards |publisher=boxrec.com |access-date=March 28, 2011}}</ref> In a post-fight interview with [[HBO]], Holmes said, "the judges, the referees and promoters can kiss me where the sun don't shine—and because we're on HBO, that's my big black behind."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1064760/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604060929/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1064760/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2012|title=Battle of the Ballot|author=Pat Putnam|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

On November 6, 1986, three days after his 37th birthday, Holmes announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/07/sports/sports-people-holmes-retires.html|title=SPORTS PEOPLE – Holmes Retires |date=November 7, 1986|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

===Comebacks===
{{Main article|Mike Tyson vs. Larry Holmes|Ray Mercer vs. Larry Holmes|Evander Holyfield vs. Larry Holmes|Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes}}
[[File:BoxingHallOfFame 1 LarryHolmesRobes.jpg|thumb|Several of Holmes's boxing robes on display at the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in [[Canastota, New York]] in May 2013]]
[[File:PA 611 NB past Third Street Easton.JPG|thumb|Larry Holmes Drive, an [[Easton, Pennsylvania]] street named in honor of Holmes, who was from Easton and fought under the nickname "The Easton Assassin".]] 
On January 22, 1988, Holmes was lured out of retirement by a $2.8 million purse to challenge reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion [[Mike Tyson]]. Tyson dropped Holmes in the fourth round with an overhand right. Holmes got up, but Tyson put him down two more times in the round, and the fight was stopped. It was the only time Holmes was knocked out in his career. After the fight, Holmes again retired.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OjssAAAAIBAJ&pg=6424,2608163&dq=larry+holmes+tyson&hl=en|work=Herald-Journal |title=Tyson Batters Holmes in 4 Rounds|date=January 23, 1988|agency=Associated Press|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Holmes returned to the ring in 1991 and became a much more active fighter, usually fighting on ''[[USA Tuesday Night Fights]]'' cards every few weeks against up and comers and journeymen. After five straight wins, he fought [[Ray Mercer]], the undefeated 1988 [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic]] Gold Medalist, on February 7, 1992. Holmes pulled off the upset and won by a 12-round unanimous decision.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cbkLAAAAIBAJ&pg=7065,1644993&dq=larry+holmes+ray+mercer&hl=en |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227022950/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cbkLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6lUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7065,1644993&dq=larry+holmes+ray+mercer&hl=en |archive-date=February 27, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Holmes later claimed that he fought Mercer in spite of having a detached retina.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-30-sp-2553-story.html|title=Larry Holmes Says He Fought Mercer With a Detached Retina|agency=Associated Press|date=December 30, 1992|via=LA Times}}</ref>) The win got Holmes a shot at [[Evander Holyfield]] for the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship. On June 19, 1992, Holyfield defeated Holmes by a twelve-round unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RHEiAAAAIBAJ&pg=3296,4983757&dq=larry+holmes+evander+holyfield&hl=en|work=The Argus-Press |title=Holyfield beats Holmes by unanimous decision|date=June 20, 1992|agency=Associated Press|author=Tim Wahlberg|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

On April 8, 1995, he fought [[Oliver McCall]] for the WBC title. Holmes lost by a close 12-round unanimous decision. Two of the judges had him losing by one point, while the other judge had him losing by three points.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J_QwAAAAIBAJ&pg=1191,2305482&dq=larry+holmes+oliver+mccall&hl=en|work=The Daily Gazette |title=McCall beats Holmes|agency=Associated Press|date=April 7, 1995|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Holmes was back in the ring five months later, resuming the pace he had set since his comeback. However, he was growing tired of the sport and, after he fought and knocked out Anthony Willis in June 1996 on another USA boxing event, Holmes announced that unless he received a shot at the title, the fight against Willis was likely to be his last.

On January 24, 1997, 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 (boxer)|Brian Nielsen]]. Nielsen won by a 12-round split decision to retain the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_r0fAAAAIBAJ&pg=5814,2565902&dq=larry+holmes+brian+nielsen&hl=en|work=Gadsden Times |title=Holmes loses to Nielsen|date=January 25, 1997|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Holmes and [[George Foreman]] signed to fight on January 23, 1999, at the [[Astrodome]] in [[Houston]]. Foreman called off the fight several weeks before it was to take place because the promoter failed to meet the deadline for paying him the remaining $9 million of his $10 million purse. Foreman received a nonrefundable $1 million deposit, and Holmes got to keep a $400,000 down-payment of his $4 million purse.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w_AyAAAAIBAJ&pg=7070,254674&dq=larry+holmes+george+foreman+off&hl=en|work=The Free Lance-Star |title=Holmes–Foreman fight reportedly is off|agency=Associated Press|date=January 2, 1999|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Holmes's next two fights were rematches with old foes. On June 18, 1999, he stopped "Bonecrusher" Smith in eight rounds,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VZQVAAAAIBAJ&pg=1826,3223504&dq=larry+holmes+bonecrusher+smith&hl=en|work=Manila Standard |title='Bonecrusher' Smith retires|date=June 26, 1999|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> and on November 17, 2000, he stopped Mike Weaver in six.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iakaAAAAIBAJ&pg=3249,1062302&dq=larry+holmes+mike+weaver&hl=en|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |title=Spotlight|date=November 21, 2000|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Holmes's final fight was on July 27, 2002, in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], in which he defeated [[Eric Esch|Eric "Butterbean" Esch]] in a 10-round unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kjYxAAAAIBAJ&pg=1482,8769465&dq=larry+holmes+butterbean&hl=en|work=Lakeland Ledger |title=Holmes Wins|date=July 30, 2002|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

==Post-boxing life==
[[File:Larry Holmes 2010.jpg|thumb|Holmes in September 2010 at the [[Beaufort, South Carolina]], where [[Joe Frazier]] was awarded the [[Order of the Palmetto]], the highest civilian awarded by the [[Governor of South Carolina]]]]
[[File:Larry-holmes-boxer-by-bill-cramer.jpg|thumb|Larry Holmes in 2011]]  
Holmes invested the money he earned from boxing and settled in his hometown of [[Easton, Pennsylvania|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|date=January 2020}} As of 2009, Holmes co-hosted a talk show entitled ''What The Heck Were They Thinking?''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aolnews.com/2009/10/28/muhammad-and-larry-documentary-didnt-do-me-justice-says-holm/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721134753/http://www.aolnews.com/2009/10/28/muhammad-and-larry-documentary-didnt-do-me-justice-says-holm/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |title=Larry Holmes: ESPN Documentary 'Didn't Do Me Justice' |first=Lem |last=Satterfield |date=October 28, 2009 |publisher=AOLNews |access-date=May 16, 2012 }}</ref>

In 2014, Holmes sold his business complex in Easton to entrepreneur Gerald Gorman, CEO of [[mail.com]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2014/12/internet-business_incubator_pl.html |title=Larry Holmes sells Easton building for $1.7 million, paves way for Internet-business incubator |last=Deegan |first=Jim |date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref>

In 2016, Holmes guest starred as himself in an episode of ''[[Mike Tyson Mysteries]]'', titled "Unsolved Situations".

As of March 21, 2025, following the death of George Foreman, Holmes is the oldest living heavyweight boxing champion.

==Honors==
Holmes was inducted into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/holmes.html|title=Larry Holmes|publisher=International Boxing Hall of Fame|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1979, Larry Holmes married Diane Robinson, with whom he has two children.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mcall.com/1994/09/25/diane-holmes-wife-of-champion-and-mother-of-two-is-happier-away-from-celebrity-lights-career/ |title=Diane Holmes Wife Of Champion And Mother Of Two Is Happier Away From Celebrity Lights Career. |last=Reaman |first=Denise |date=September 25, 1994 |access-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref> He also has three daughters from two previous relationships.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Holmes |first1=Larry |last2=Berger |first2=Phil |title=Larry Holmes: Against the Odds |date=1998 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dVr5RepSf6AC|isbn=9780312187361}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Andre |title=A Real Champ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30351087/ |work=[[The Morning Call]] |date=December 31, 1999 |page=C6}}</ref>

As of 2019, Holmes is living in [[Palmer Township, Pennsylvania]], near [[Easton, Pennsylvania|Easton]].<ref name="property sales">{{cite web |last1=Bresswein |first1=Kurt |title=Larry Holmes' Palmer Township estate just one holding of his for sale |url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/2013/03/larry_holmes_palmer_township_e.html |website=lehighvalleylive.com |access-date=February 13, 2022 |date=January 3, 2019}}</ref>

Holmes's younger brother, Mark Holmes, was a middleweight boxer from 1980 to 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/38283|title=BoxRec: Mark Holmes|website=boxrec.com}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|ko-wins=44
|ko-losses=1
|dec-wins=25
|dec-losses=5
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round(s), time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|75
|{{yes2}}Win
|69–6
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Eric Esch]]
|UD
|10
|Jul 27, 2002
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Norfolk Scope|Scope]], [[Norfolk, Virginia]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|74
|{{yes2}}Win
|68–6
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Mike Weaver (boxer)|Mike Weaver]]
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|0:45}}
|Nov 17, 2000
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|73
|{{yes2}}Win
|67–6
|style="text-align:left;"|[[James Smith (boxer)|James Smith]]
|TKO
|8 (10), {{small|2:00}}
|Jun 18, 1999
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Cumberland County Crown Coliseum|Crown Coliseum]], [[Fayetteville, North Carolina]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|72
|{{yes2}}Win
|66–6
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Maurice Harris]]
|SD
|10
|Jul 29, 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[The Theater at Madison Square Garden]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|
|-
|71
|{{no2}}Loss
|65–6
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Brian Nielsen (boxer)|Brian Nielsen]]
|SD
|12
|Jan 24, 1997
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Brøndby Hall]], [[Copenhagen]], Denmark}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[list of IBO world champions#Heavyweight|IBO heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|70
|{{yes2}}Win
|65–5
|style="text-align:left;"|Anthony Willis
|KO
|8 (10), {{small|1:13}}
|Jun 16, 1996
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|69
|{{yes2}}Win
|64–5
|style="text-align:left;"|Quinn Navarre
|UD
|10
|Apr 16, 1996
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|68
|{{yes2}}Win
|63–5
|style="text-align:left;"|Curtis Sheppard
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|2:41}}
|Jan 9, 1996
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|67
|{{yes2}}Win
|62–5
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ed Donaldson]]
|UD
|10
|Sep 19, 1995
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|66
|{{no2}}Loss
|61–5
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Oliver McCall]]
|UD
|12
|[[Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes|Apr 8, 1995]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|65
|{{yes2}}Win
|61–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jesse Ferguson]]
|UD
|10
|Sep 8, 1994
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Mystic Lake Casino Hotel]], [[Shakopee, Minnesota]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|64
|{{yes2}}Win
|60–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Garing Lane
|UD
|10
|Mar 8, 1994
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Foxwoods Resort Casino]], [[Ledyard, Connecticut]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|63
|{{yes2}}Win
|59–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[José Ribalta]]
|UD
|10
|Sep 28, 1993
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|62
|{{yes2}}Win
|58–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Paul Poirier
|RTD
|6 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|May 18, 1993
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|61
|{{yes2}}Win
|57–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Ken Lakusta
|RTD
|7 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|Apr 13, 1993
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.}}
|
|-
|60
|{{yes2}}Win
|56–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Rocky Pepeli
|RTD
|4 (10), {{small|3:00}}
|Mar 9, 1993
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Casino Magic Bay St. Louis|Casino Magic]], [[Bay St. Louis, Mississippi]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|59
|{{yes2}}Win
|55–4
|style="text-align:left;"|Everett Martin
|UD
|10
|Jan 5, 1993
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Mississippi Coast Coliseum|Coast Coliseum]], [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|58
|{{no2}}Loss
|54–4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Evander Holyfield]]
|UD
|12
|[[Evander Holyfield vs. Larry Holmes|Jun 19, 1992]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles}}
|-
|57
|{{yes2}}Win
|54–3
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ray Mercer]]
|UD
|12
|[[Ray Mercer vs. Larry Holmes|Feb 7, 1992]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|
|-
|56
|{{yes2}}Win
|53–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Jamie Howe
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|1:57}}
|Nov 12, 1991
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Jacksonville Coliseum|Coliseum]], [[Jacksonville, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|55
|{{yes2}}Win
|52–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Art Card
|UD
|10
|Sep 17, 1991
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Marriott's World Center]], [[Orlando, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|54
|{{yes2}}Win
|51–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Michael Greer
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|1:18}}
|Aug 24, 1991
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Neal S. Blaisdell Arena]], Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.}}
|
|-
|53
|{{yes2}}Win
|50–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Eddie Gonzales
|UD
|10
|Aug 13, 1991
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Hyatt|Hyatt Regency]], [[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|52
|{{yes2}}Win
|49–3
|style="text-align:left;"|Tim Anderson
|TKO
|1 (10), {{small|2:03}}
|Apr 7, 1991
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood|The Diplomat]], [[Hollywood, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|51
|{{no2}}Loss
|48–3
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Mike Tyson]]
|KO
|4 (12), {{small|2:55}}
|[[Mike Tyson vs. Larry Holmes|Jan 22, 1988]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Boardwalk Hall|Convention Hall]], Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|WBA]], WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles}}
|-
|50
|{{no2}}Loss
|48–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Michael Spinks]]
|SD
|15
|[[Michael Spinks vs. Larry Holmes II|Apr 19, 1986]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For IBF and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|49
|{{no2}}Loss
|48–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Michael Spinks]]
|UD
|15
|[[Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks|Sep 21, 1985]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost IBF and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|48–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Carl Williams (boxer)|Carl Williams]]
|UD
|15
|May 20, 1985
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Lawlor Events Center]], [[Reno, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained IBF and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|47–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[David Bey]]
|TKO
|10 (15), {{small|2:58}}
|Mar 15, 1985
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained IBF and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|46–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[James Smith (boxer)|James Smith]]
|TKO
|12 (15), {{small|2:10}}
|Nov 9, 1984
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Riviera (hotel and casino)|Riviera]], Winchester, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained [[list of IBF world champions#Heavyweight|IBF]] and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|45–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Marvis Frazier]]
|TKO
|1 (12), {{small|2:57}}
|Nov 25, 1983
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained ''The Ring'' heavyweight title}}
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|44–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Scott Frank (boxer)|Scott Frank]]
|TKO
|5 (12), {{small|1:28}}
|Sep 10, 1983
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Broadway by the Bay Theater]], [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|43
|{{yes2}}Win
|43–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Tim Witherspoon]]
|SD
|12
|[[Larry Holmes vs. Tim Witherspoon|May 20, 1983]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes]], Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Lucien Rodriguez
|UD
|12
|Mar 27, 1983
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Watres Armory, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Randall "Tex" Cobb|Randall Cobb]]
|UD
|15
|Nov 26, 1982
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Houston Astrodome|Astrodome]], [[Houston, Texas]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Gerry Cooney]]
|TKO
|13 (15), {{small|2:52}}
|[[Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney|Jun 11, 1982]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Renaldo Snipes]]
|TKO
|11 (15), {{small|1:05}}
|Nov 6, 1981
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]], [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Leon Spinks]]
|TKO
|3 (15), {{small|2:34}}
|[[Larry Holmes vs. Leon Spinks|Jun 12, 1981]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Joe Louis Arena]], [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Trevor Berbick]]
|UD
|15
|Apr 11, 1981
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Boxing career of Muhammad Ali|Muhammad Ali]]
|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}
|10 (15), {{small|3:00}}
|[[Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali|Oct 2, 1980]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Scott LeDoux]]
|TKO
|7 (15), {{small|2:05}}
|Jul 7, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Metropolitan Sports Center]], [[Bloomington, Minnesota]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Leroy Jones (boxer)|Leroy Jones]]
|TKO
|8 (15), {{small|2:56}}
|Mar 31, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Lorenzo Zanon
|KO
|6 (15), {{small|2:39}}
|Feb 3, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Earnie Shavers]]
|TKO
|11 (15), {{small|2:00}}
|Sep 28, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Mike Weaver (boxer)|Mike Weaver]]
|TKO
|12 (15), {{small|0:44}}
|Jun 22, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ossie Ocasio]]
|TKO
|7 (15), {{small|2:38}}
|Mar 23, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Las Vegas Hilton|Hilton]], Winchester, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Alfredo Evangelista]]
|KO
|7 (15), {{small|2:14}}
|Nov 10, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained WBC heavyweight title}}
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ken Norton]]
|{{abbr|SD|Split decision}}
|15
|[[Ken Norton vs. Larry Holmes|Jun 9, 1978]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[list of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Earnie Shavers]]
|UD
|12
|Mar 25, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Ibar Arrington
|TKO
|10 (10), {{small|1:38}}
|Nov 5, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.}}
|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Fred Houpe
|TKO
|7 (10), {{small|0:47}}
|Sep 14, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Caesars Palace]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Horace Robinson
|TKO
|5 (10)
|[[George Foreman vs. Jimmy Young|Mar 17, 1977]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Tom Prater
|UD
|8
|Jan 16, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|{{USS|Lexington|CV-16|6}}, [[Pensacola, Florida]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Roy Williams
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|10
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Young|Apr 30, 1976]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S.}}
|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Fred Askew
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:18}}
|Apr 5, 1976
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]], [[Landover, Maryland]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Joe Gholston
|TKO
|8 (10), {{small|2:32}}
|Jan 29, 1976
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Allan P. Kirby Field House]], [[Easton, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Billy Joiner]]
|TKO
|3 (10), {{small|2:29}}
|Dec 20, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Roberto Clemente Coliseum]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], Puerto Rico}}
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Leon Shaw
|KO
|1 (10)
|Dec 9, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[D.C. Armory]], [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Rodney Bobick
|TKO
|6 (10), {{small|2:46}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III|Oct 1, 1975]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Araneta Coliseum]], [[Quezon City]], Philippines}}
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Charlie James
|PTS
|10
|Aug 26, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.}}
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Obie English
|TKO
|7 (10)
|Aug 16, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Ernie Smith
|KO
|3 (8)
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Ron Lyle|May 16, 1975]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Las Vegas Convention Center|Convention Center]], [[Winchester, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Robert Yarborough
|KO
|4, {{small|2:58}}
|Apr 26, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Maple Leaf Gardens]], [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Oliver Wright (boxer)|Oliver Wright]]
|TKO
|3
|Apr 9, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Honolulu International Center|International Center]], [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Charley "Devil" Green|Charley Green]]
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|1 (8), {{small|1:57}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner|Mar 24, 1975]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Richfield Coliseum|Coliseum]], [[Richfield, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Joe Hathaway
|TKO
|1 (8), {{small|2:47}}
|Dec 11, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bob Mashburn
|TKO
|7 (8)
|May 29, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Howard Darlington
|TKO
|4 (6), {{small|2:23}}
|Apr 24, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Kevin Isaac
|TKO
|3 (6), {{small|1:05}}
|Nov 28, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Cleveland Arena]], [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Jerry Judge
|PTS
|6
|Nov 14, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bob Bozic
|PTS
|6
|Sep 10, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Don Branch
|PTS
|6
|Aug 22, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Curtis Whitner
|TKO
|1 (4), {{small|2:14}}
|Jun 20, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Art Savage
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|3 (4), {{small|1:32}}
|May 2, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Rodell Dupree
|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}
|4
|Mar 21, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Catholic Youth Center, [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|
|}

==Exhibition boxing record==

{{BoxingRecordSummary
|nonscore=8
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round(s), time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|8
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(8)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Ron McCarthy
|{{N/A}}
|3
|Jan 16, 2004
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Boutwell Memorial Auditorium]], [[Birmingham]], [[Alabama]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|7
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(7)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[James Tillis]]
|{{N/A}}
|2
|Mar 18, 1990
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Jakarta, Indonesia}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|6
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Bernardo Mercado]]
|{{N/A}}
|2
|Mar 18, 1990
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Jakarta]], Indonesia}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|5
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Tim Anderson
|{{N/A}}
|4
|Nov 10, 1989
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Jacksonville]], [[Florida]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|4
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Floyd Cummings]]
|{{N/A}}
|4
|Mar 27, 1982
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|3
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(3)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Mitch Green]]
|{{N/A}}
|2
|Mar 27, 1982
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Trump World's Fair|Playboy Hotel & Casino]], [[Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|2
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Jody Ballard
|{{N/A}}
|2
|Feb 2, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|1
|{{N/A}}
|0-0 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Wendell Baily
|{{N/A}}
|2
|Feb 2, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|}

==Titles in boxing==
===Major world titles===
* [[list of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC heavyweight champion]] (200+&nbsp;lbs)
* [[list of IBF world champions#Heavyweight|IBF heavyweight champion]]{{Efn|Awarded inaugural title on December 11, 1983.|name=a}} (200+&nbsp;lbs)

===''The Ring'' magazine titles===
* [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight champion]] (200+&nbsp;lbs)

==See also==
*[[List of heavyweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of WBC world champions]]
*[[List of IBF world champions]]
*[[List of The Ring world champions|List of ''The Ring'' world champions]]

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{Notes list}}
===References===
{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|http://www.larryholmes.com/}}
*{{Boxrec|id=000150}}
*[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/modern/holmes.html Larry Holmes profile] at [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]]
*[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/larry.htm Larry Holmes profile] at Cyber Boxing Zone
*[http://boxing.about.com/od/records/a/holmes.htm Larry Holmes profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060503143835/http://boxing.about.com/od/records/a/holmes.htm |date=2006-05-03 }} at [[About.com]], May 1, 2018
*[http://www.boxinginsider.com/biofiles/larry-holmes/ "Larry Holmes: 'Ali Was One of My Best Friends'], ''BoxingInsider'', January 8, 2016
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eueRvDLbxq8 Highlights of Holmes's 1980 defeat of Muhammad Ali]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKxp4bhRsNo&feature=player_embedded Documentary Series from History of Boxing – "Larry The Easton Assassin Holmes: Triumph and Tragedy"]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ken Norton]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC heavyweight champion]]
|years=June 9, 1978 – December 11, 1983<br>Vacated}}
{{s-vac|next=[[Tim Witherspoon]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|last=[[Muhammad Ali]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight champion]]
|years=[[Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali|October 10, 1980]] – [[Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks|September 21, 1985]]}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Michael Spinks]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-non|reason=Inaugural champion}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of IBF world champions#Heavyweight|IBF heavyweight champion]]
|years=December 11, 1983 – [[Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks|September 21, 1985]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Ring magazine Fighter of the Year}}
{{Sugar Ray Robinson Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Larry}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:African-American boxers]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:International Boxing Federation champions]]
[[Category:International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:People from Cuthbert, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Easton, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:The Ring (magazine) champions]]
[[Category:World Boxing Council champions]]
[[Category:World heavyweight boxing champions]]