The legendary Larry Holmes once revealed who he believes to be the greatest heavyweight in boxing history.
Holmes enjoyed an exceptional professional boxing career of his own – at his peak, he held the world heavyweight championship for seven years.
‘The Easton Assassin’ captured the title back in June of 1978 when he defeated countryman Ken Norton by split decision at the conclusion of their 15-round battle at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Georgia-native would go on to make no less than 20 successful defences of his crown, producing wins over the likes of Earnie Shavers, Trevor Berbick and none other than Muhammad Ali.
Speaking in a resurfaced YouTube clip, Holmes spoke fondly of Ali, who he recognises as the greatest heavyweight to have ever lived.
“I told the referee stop this fight. Don’t let this man take the fight and he says to me shut up and box. I said what I got to do, kill him? I’m beating him up, can’t you see I’m beating him up. But they pushed him out there again. I wasn’t hitting him hard no more, I was trying to make him quit.
“I said ‘I still love you man,’ he said ‘if you love me why you beating me up then?’ I said it’s part of the game. And after the fight I went to his dressing room, grabbed him, hugged him, gave him a kiss. I told him you’ll be the greatest man, you’ll always be the greatest in my book.”
Holmes became the only man to stopp ‘The Greatest’ in the 10th round of their title clash in Las Vegas in October 1980. The victory, however, is tainted, with most recognising that Ali, at that point suffering from deteriorating health, should not have been in the ring.
Though sometimes arguing that he should be named the best heavyweight in history, Holmes has also echoed the sentiment for Ali throughout the years.
