Larry Holmes enjoyed incredible success during one of heavyweight boxings greatest eras.
Best known as ‘The Easton Assassin’, Holmes fought on 75 occasions throughout his professional career, facing some of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up the gloves along the way.
He captured the world heavyweight championship when he defeated Ken Norton in 1978 and would remain champion until 1985, defeating the likes of Earnie Shavers, Trevor Berbick and Muhammad Ali along the way.
He challenged for world honours on a handful of occasions before the end of his career, but would fall short against the likes of Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall and ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
In an honest interview, ‘The Easton Assassin’ spoke of his 1988 showdown with Tyson, which he admits he only agreed to for the substantial amount of money that he was offered by Don King to do so.
“What I remember was Don King knocking at my door around nine at night. I was retired two years, but Don said he wanted me to fight somebody he knew I could beat.
I asked him who, and he said Mike Tyson. I said I can’t beat Mike Tyson. Don said, what if I give you three and a quarter million dollars, and I said: ‘Where’s Mike at?’”
Tyson reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion for two more years after he beat Holmes, defeating Frank Bruno and Michael Spinks during this period. The first loss of his career came when he was sensationally beaten by James ‘Buster’ Douglas in 1990, in what is still regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of boxing.
