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Larry Holmes is a former world heavyweight boxing
champion considered one of the fiercest fighters
in the history of heavyweight boxing.  

As heavyweight champion, Holmes won his first 48
professional challenge fights, falling just one
short of matching Rocky Marciano's record of 49
consecutive wins to start a career.  

Holmes was born in Cuthbert, Georgia, but he has
spent the majority of his life living in Easton,
Pennsylvania, from which he gained his famous
boxing nickname, "The Easton Assassin."

During the early part of his his boxing career in
Pennsylvania, Holmes was a sparring partner to
then heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, who
trained in the state.  

Holmes gained credibility as a contender when he
upset Earnie Shavers, winning almost every round.
This set up a title shot between Holmes and World
Boxing Council|WBC Heavyweight Champion Ken
Norton. Holmes won the WBC heavyweight title on
June 9, 1978, defeating Norton in 15 rounds.  He
successfully defended the World Boxing Council|WBC
belt until December 11, 1983, when he voluntarily
relinquished that title for the championship of
the new International Boxing Federation.  Many
fans attribute the IBF's early survival to Holmes'
involvement as its first heavyweight champion.

Among those he defeated during his career were
former world champions, including an aged Ali,
Trevor Berbick, Ray Mercer, Ossie Ocasio, Leon
Spinks, Mike Weaver and Tim Witherspoon.  He also
earned victories over well-known non-champions
such as Randall Cobb, Gerry Cooney, and Earnie
Shavers.

During the 1990s, following his retirement, Holmes
made a boxing comeback, winning a decision over
undefeated WBO world champion Ray Mercer in a
points decision over 12 rounds.  He received
another world title shot against Evander
Holyfield, though he lost that match on a point
decision over 12 rounds.  He also lost a bitterly
close match to Oliver McCall for the World Boxing
Council|WBC World title over 12 rounds.  Holmes'
other few losses included those to Mike Tyson by
knockout in the fourth round, and to Brian
Nielsen.

In all, Holmes was one of the most victorious
fighters in heavyweight boxing history.  He won 69
bouts and lost only six, with 43 wins coming by
knockout.  As heavyweight champion, Holmes
successfully defended the World Boxing Council|WBC
or IBF title 19 times from 1978 to 1985, before
losing the IBF crown to Michael Spinks. This loss
was particularly galling for Holmes because had he
been victorious against Spinks, he would have tied
the record of Rocky Marciano in winning 49
professional fights as a champion with no defeats.
 Holmes was criticized by many for comments he
made after the fight, saying that "Rocky Marciano
couldn't have carried my jockstrap".

Most feel that Holmes' losses were all the result
of Holmes' age. By the time he had his first loss
to Michael Spinks, he was 36 years old. Holmes'
lack of popularity is attributed to him being the
direct successor to Muhammad Ali, one of the most
accomplished and most loved heavyweight champions
of all time.

Holmes is regarded as having one of, if not the,
greatest left jabs in heavyweight boxing history.

==External link==
http://www.LarryHolmes.com/ Official Web Site

start box
succession box |
  before= Leon Spinks |
  title= List of heavyweight boxing
champions|Heavyweight boxing champion (WBC) |
  years= 1978–1983 |
  after= Tim Witherspoon

succession box |
  before= — |
  title= List of heavyweight boxing
champions|Heavyweight boxing champion (IBF) |
  years= 1983–1985 |
  after= Michael Spinks

end box