Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali are boxing legends whose names will be forever linked.
For many years early on in his boxing career, Holmes was a sparring partner for Ali, so the two grew close.
Holmes soon established himself on the world stage and became known as ‘The Easton Assassin’. His best weapon was his ramrod jab, which is still often cited as the best in the business.
He had many famous fights with plenty of big names and, as well as winning the inaugural IBF belt, he held the Ring Magazine and lineal titles from 1980 to 1985.
He had famous wins over Ali – though way past his prime – as well as Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney and Earnie Shavers.
Speaking to Boxing TV, Holmes recalled Ali’s own fight with Shavers in 1977 which ‘The Greatest’ won on points to regain his world title. He blames that for accelerating the boxing legend’s decline in health.
“Muhammad Ali fought Earnie Shavers. He was OK until he fought Earnie Shaves, and when Earnie started hitting him upside the head, Ali went a little bit like that. And I blame Earnie Shavers for it.
“I shouldn’t but I do. I said if you hadn’t hit him like that he would be walking around, going punchy a little bit. Earnie hit him and hurt him a lot of times. He knocked the hell out of Muhammad.”
Ali would have four fights after the Shavers bout – a loss to Leon Spinks, a win in their rematch, the only stoppage defeat of his career to Holmes and, finally, a points loss to Trevor Berbick. There was outrage that he was still fighting at the end due to his apparent health issues.
After a long battle with Parkinson’s, Ali passed away due to an infection in 2016, forever known as the greatest heavyweight of all time.
