Heavyweight legend Larry Holmes shared the ring with an abundance of all-time-great fighters during his illustrious career.
In a career that spanned just shy of 30-years, ‘The Easton Assassin’ picked up victories against the likes of Earnie Shavers, Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton. He held the world heavyweight championship from 1978 to 1985, making 21 successful defences during this time.
Despite the success he experienced during his campaign as a professional, there was one great fighter of the heavyweight division which Holmes could not get the better of.
Mike Tyson defeated ‘The Easton Assassin’ in the fourth round of their showdown which took place in January 1988 at the Atlantic City Convention Hall. Defeat to ‘Iron’ Mike was the third in a row for Holmes, who had suffered successive defeats to Michael Spinks beforehand.
In a segment of Sky Sports’ Ringside, Holmes was asked how a fight between Tyson and George Foreman would have played out, to which he said this.
“George Foreman? 2 seconds!”
Foreman is regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time, enjoying a glittering career which was topped off with him becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing history, a record which still stands today.
‘Big’ George defeated the likes of Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and Michael Moorer during his career, but did fall short to Muhammad Ali in their historic battle in 1974, which was dubbed the ‘Rumble In The Jungle’.
Foreman’s victory over Moorer in 1994 is recognised as one of the greatest accomplishments in boxing history, with many writing the then 45-year-old off before he managed to knock ‘Double M’ out in the tenth round.
