Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali are two of the best heavyweights to grace the sport of boxing.
Both fighters spent a period of time as sparring partners for one another, which led to them forging a close bond.
Holmes’ career spanned 29 years, ending in 2002 after 75 outings as a professional. He held the world heavyweight championship for 8 years between 1978 and 1985, defeating Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Trevor Berbick during his reign.
He also holds a victory over his former sparring partner Ali, defeating ‘The Greatest’ in the tenth round of their battle in October 1980. The late, great Ali was admittedly past his best when he was matched up with Holmes, with many left wondering why the fight was ever allowed to take place.
Speaking to Boxing TV, ‘The Easton Assassin’ discusses his former foe’s 1977 showdown with Earnie Shavers, which was won by Ali, where he claims it was the beginning of a rapid decline in health for ‘The Greatest’.
“Muhammad Ali fought Earnie Shavers. He was OK until he fought Earnie Shavers, 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.”
‘The Greatest’ retired not long after his decision loss to Berbick in Decembr 1981. There was a sense of outrage throughout the boxing world, with many expressing their disgust at Ali being allowed to fight whilst experiencing a number of health problems.
