Larry Holmes stands out as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
‘The Easton Assassin’ is known to have had one of the best jabs in boxing history, proving to be a solid attribute of his which saw him hold the world heavyweight champion for 7 years from 1978 to 1985,
Holmes shared the ring with a number of all time great heavyweights during his 29-year career, including the likes of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. In a 75-fight campaign as a professional. where he won his first 48 contests, Holmes lost just six times.
Speaking in a clip on YouTube, ‘The Easton Assassin’ spoke of who he believes is the greatest heavyweight of all time, who he named as none other than former opponent Muhammad Ali as the greatest.
“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 faced ‘The Greatest’ in October 1980, in a contest that many felt should never have taken place, given the decline in Ali’s health that was made common knowledge in the weeks leading up to the fight.
