Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949, in Cuthbert, Georgia) is a former world WBC and IBF heavyweight boxing champion. Holmes has spent the majority of his adult life in Easton, Pennsylvania, in the state's Lehigh Valley region, giving rise to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin.
As a professional heavyweight, Holmes won his first 48 bouts, beating, among others, Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Tim Witherspoon, Gerry Cooney, James "...
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Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949, in Cuthbert, Georgia) is a former world WBC and IBF heavyweight boxing champion. Holmes has spent the majority of his adult life in Easton, Pennsylvania, in the state's Lehigh Valley region, giving rise to his boxing nickname, The Easton Assassin.
As a professional heavyweight, Holmes won his first 48 bouts, beating, among others, Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Tim Witherspoon, Gerry Cooney, James "Bonecrusher" Smith and Trevor Berbick. As champion, Holmes successfully defended his title (organizational or lineal) 20 times, second only to Joe Louis who had 25 defenses. He fell just one short of matching the record of Rocky Marciano, who retired undefeated after 49 wins in 49 bouts, when he lost to light-heavyweight champion Michael Spinks by a unanimous and controversial decision in 1985. After losing the rematch with Spinks on a disputed split decision, Holmes promptly retired from the sport at age 36.
Subsequently, Holmes made a series...
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