Larry Holmes

Larry Holmes

Born: November 3, 1949
in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA
Larry Holmes is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which led to his boxing nickname of the Easton Assassin.

Holmes, whose left jab is rated among the best in boxing history, held the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 to 1983, The Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight titles from 1980 to 1985, and the inaugural IBF heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985. During his only title reign, he defended his title against 19 fighters, the second most in history behind Joe Louis. He also holds the record for the longest individual heavyweight title streak in the modern boxing history. Holmes is one of only five boxers—along with Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and Trevor Berbick—to defeat Muhammad Ali; he is the only one to have stopped Ali.

Holmes won his first 48 professional bouts, including victories over Norton, Ali, Earnie Shavers, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon, Carl Williams and Marvis Frazier. He fell one short of matching Rocky Marciano's career record of 49–0 when he lost to Michael Spinks in an upset in 1985. Holmes retired after losing a rematch to Spinks the following year, but made repeated comebacks. He was unsuccessful in three further attempts (against Mike Tyson in 1988, Evander Holyfield in 1992 and Oliver McCall in 1995) to regain the heavyweight title. Holmes fought for the final time in 2002, aged 52, against the 334lb Eric "Butterbean" Esch, and ended his career with a record of 69 wins and 6 losses. He is frequently ranked as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and has been inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame.

When Holmes was nineteen, he started boxing. In his twenty-first bout, he boxed Nick Wells in the semifinals of the 1972 National Olympic Trials in Fort Worth, Texas. Wells, a southpaw known for unprecedently high knockout-to-win percentage for an amateur boxer, with a majority of knockouts coming in the first round, stopped Holmes in the first round. Nevertheless, Holmes was chosen by a selection committee of the National Olympic authorities to fight at the Olympic Box-offs in West Point, New York, where he had a match-up versus a fighting seaman Duane Bobick. Holmes was dropped in the first round with a right to the head. He got up and danced out of range, landing several stiff jabs in the process. Bobick mauled Holmes in the second round but could not corner him. The referee warned Holmes twice in the second for holding. In the third, Bobick landed several good rights and started to corner Holmes, who continued to hold. Eventually, Holmes was disqualified for excessive holding.

Holmes invested the money he earned from boxing and settled in his hometown of Easton. When he retired from boxing, Holmes employed more than 200 people through his various business holdings. In 2008, he owned two restaurants and a nightclub, a training facility, an office complex, a snack food bar and slot machines.[citation needed] Holmes currently co-hosts a talk show What The Heck Were They Thinking?

Movies for Larry Holmes...

In the Company of Kings
Title: In the Company of Kings
Character: Self
Released: April 1, 2024
Type: Movie
In the Company of Kings follows a fight fan's unforgettable journey into the dark heart of American boxing to talk to eight former World Champs and those closest to his hero, Muhammad Ali, about race, struggle, victory, defeat and picking yourself up off the canvas. Features Larry Holmes, Bernard Hopkins, Tim Witherspoon, Earnie Shavers, the Spinks brothers, Bob Arum and more.
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Earnie Shavers
Title: Earnie Shavers
Released: January 1, 2021
Type: Movie
Considered one of the hardest-hitting heavyweight boxers of all time, Earnie Shavers took on all the best of his era including Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, and Jerry Quarry. This is a look back at his career and how he got into the sport of boxing.
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Tommy
Title: Tommy
Character: Self
Released: September 27, 2017
Type: Movie
Co-directed by Gentry Kirby and Erin Leyden, “Tommy” examines Morrison’s remarkable rise to the spotlight, followed by a stunning, confounding, and ultimately tragic fall. He was one of the best heavyweights of his time; a handsome, charming, yet unsettled young star. Born into a troubled family in America’s heartland, Morrison’s initial emergence as a fighter was bolstered by a starring role in “Rocky V.” A few years later he beat George Foreman for the WBO heavyweight title, and seemed primed for more stardom, even in the face of blown opportunities and upset losses. But everything changed in early 1996 when he tested positive for HIV, abruptly forcing him into retirement at age 27. From there, Morrison’s life spiraled further and further downward, plagued by drug problems, jail time, and an eventual denial that he had the virus at all.
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Chasing Tyson
Title: Chasing Tyson
Character: Self
Released: November 10, 2015
Type: Movie
Evander Holyfield knew he could never earn the respect he craved until he defeated Mike Tyson. When the two finally fought, the world witnessed not one, but two of the boxing's most memorable fights.
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River of Fundament
Title: River of Fundament
Character: Wake Guest
Released: February 12, 2014
Type: Movie
Visionary artist Matthew Barney returns to cinema with this 3-part epic, a radical reinvention of Norman Mailer’s novel Ancient Evenings. In collaboration with composer Jonathan Bepler, Barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera, reconstructing Mailer’s hypersexual story of Egyptian gods and the seven stages of reincarnation, alongside the rise and fall of the American car industry.
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Dirty Movie
Title: Dirty Movie
Character: The Judge
Released: February 15, 2011
Type: Movie
An outrageous cut-rate producer is about to fulfill his lifelong dream to make a movie about the most offensive, dirtiest jokes ever told. As Charlie and his filmmaking team hilariously struggle to write a script and assemble their award-winning cast, the movie-within-a-movie emerges with one dirty joke after another. Only one can take the crown for writing the dirtiest joke ever told, and Charlie will do whatever he can to be that king.
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Muhammad and Larry
Title: Muhammad and Larry
Character: Himself
Released: October 27, 2009
Type: Movie
In October of 1980 Muhammad Ali was preparing to fight for an unprecedented fourth heavyweight title against his friend and former sparring partner Larry Holmes. To say that the great Ali was in the twilight of his career would be generous; most of his admiring fans, friends and fight scribes considered his bravado delusional. What was left for him to prove? In the weeks of training before the fight, documentarians Albert and David Maysles took an intimate look at Ali trying to convince the world and perhaps himself, that he was still “The Greatest.” At the same time, they documented the mild-mannered and undervalued champion Holmes as he confidently prepared to put an end to the career of a man for whom he had an abiding and deep affection
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Title: 30 for 30
Character: Self
Released: October 6, 2009
Type: TV
30 for 30 is the umbrella title for a series of documentary films airing on ESPN and its sister networks and online properties. The series, which highlights people and events in the sports world that have generally received small amounts of attention, has featured two "volumes" of 30 episodes each, a 13-episode series under the ESPN Films Presents title in 2011-2012, and a series of 30 for 30 Shorts shown through the ESPN.com website.
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Facing Ali
Title: Facing Ali
Character: Himself
Released: May 29, 2009
Type: Movie
Ten of Muhammad Ali's former rivals pay tribute to the three-time world heavyweight champion.
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Thrilla in Manila
Title: Thrilla in Manila
Character: Himself
Released: November 11, 2008
Type: Movie
On October 1, 1975, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali was in the ring with his arch rival Joe Frazier for the third time. This fight in the Philippines, which has been nicknamed "Thrilla in Manila," is considered one of the most dramatic boxing matches in history - in the words of the voice-over, "They hated each other." With the help of archive material and eyewitness accounts (including Imelda Marcos), this documentary not only reconstructs the match, but shows us what was happening behind the scenes as well.
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Out From Ali's Shadow: The Larry Holmes Story
Title: Out From Ali's Shadow: The Larry Holmes Story
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2006
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes is undeniably one of the greatest boxers in heavyweight history, but, despite his accomplishments, he never managed to escape the presence of the beloved Muhammad Ali. This documentary sheds light upon Holmes, bringing his legacy "Out From Ali's Shadow."
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Title: But Can They Sing?
Released: October 30, 2005
Type: TV
But Can They Sing? is a reality television series that premiered on October 30, 2005 on VH1 as part of its celebreality programming. Hosted by Ahmet Zappa, the series was partially based on NBC's announced but abandoned project I'm a Celebrity but I Wanna Be a Pop Star. Like its network predecessor, it was produced by Granada America. In January 2006 VH1 announced that the show would not return for a second season.
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Title: The Next Great Champ
Released: September 7, 2004
Type: TV
The Next Great Champ is an American reality television series on Fox that aired in early 2005. It followed a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships with each other and their families are depicted. The show was the result of the synergy between boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya and reality television powerhouse Endemol USA. The show was rushed into production to compete with Mark Burnett's The Contender reality boxing series, and Champ deputed prior to The Contender. The show sought to discover young, raw boxers and train them for a possible title fight opportunity, with the winner also getting a professional contract with de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and a large cash prize. The show quickly fizzled in the ratings, and after four episodes The Next Great Champ was cancelled by Fox. The final six episodes aired on Fox Sports Net. The only season of the show was won by Otis Griffin. After the victory, Griffin was set to battle Alfonso Sanchez live on Fox Sports for the WBO "8-round" light heavyweight championship, but the bout never materialized. Griffin did win this title against James Sundin in a non-televised fight.
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Champions Forever - World Heavyweight Champs!
Title: Champions Forever - World Heavyweight Champs!
Character: Himself
Released: May 17, 2000
Type: Movie
Previously unseen footage, seeing and hearing the champions interviewed and talking to each other at a private dinner party hosted by baseball’s legendary great, Reggie Jackson. Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Norton. For more than twenty years, these kings of boxing ruled the ring as they passed the world heavyweight title from one to the other. Now for the first time, see them all come face to face – gloves off – in an unprecedented video event. Footage from over 30 fights, which include 15 title matches, featuring interviews and news events as they occurred during each champion’s reign.
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The Moment After
Title: The Moment After
Character: Pawn shop guy
Released: July 4, 1999
Type: Movie
In the twinkling of an eye, a mass disappearance has occurred. Moments after the turmoil and confusion, the FBI is called in to investigate and locate the missing persons. For Agent Adam Riley (David White), it is personal. For Agent Charles Baker (Kevin Downes), it doesn't matter, it's just a job.
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Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes
Title: Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes
Released: April 8, 1995
Type: Movie
Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmes, billed as "Burden of Proof", was a professional boxing match contested on April 8, 1995 for the WBC Heavyweight Championship. After Oliver McCall stunned Lennox Lewis in the second round to become WBC Heavyweight Champion, he turned down a $10 million offer from Lewis for an immediate rematch. Instead he agreed to fight 46 year old former WBC, IBF and lineal heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, who was making his fourth attempt at regaining a heavyweight title after losing to Michael Spinks in 1985. Each of his previous three attempts (against Spinks in 1986 in a rematch, against Mike Tyson in 1988, and against Evander Holyfield in 1992) ended in defeat, although he went the distance in two of the three fights.
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Larry Holmes vs. Garing Lane
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Garing Lane
Released: March 8, 1994
Type: Movie
Took place on Tuesday 8, March 1994 at Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket.
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Naked Sport: Welcome to the Sewer
Title: Naked Sport: Welcome to the Sewer
Character: Self
Released: May 1, 1993
Type: Movie
Produced by PBS in 1992, this documentary explores the darker side of boxing. It follows the career of a young Shannon Briggs and includes interviews with Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, Teddy Atlas, Dan Duva, Kathy Duva, Lou Duva, Bobby Czyz, Bob Arum, Mike Marley and even Muhammad Ali.
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Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson
Title: Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: February 12, 1993
Type: Movie
Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson is a 1993 film made by acclaimed American documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple. Though Tyson was in jail serving a sentence for rape, Kopple used existing interviews with the boxer, as well as her own extensive interviews with those closest to Tyson, to explore the man's history. The film traces Tyson's story from his troubled and tumultuous upbringing, through his rapid ascendancy in the ranks of the boxing world and his subsequent struggle with the trappings of fame. Fallen Champ earned Barbara Kopple a Directors Guild of America award as Best Documentary Director of 1993.
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Title: The Simpsons
Released: December 17, 1989
Type: TV
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
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Champions Forever
Title: Champions Forever
Character: Self
Released: November 1, 1989
Type: Movie
No other film has the sweeping review of Ali's greatest fights, the legendary fight footage, and the real time relevant comments and conversations with the men who made him "The Greatest." Muhammad Ali was simply the greets and he proved by going up against the most incredible fighters of all time, together they made the world of sports stand still as they battled for dominance.
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Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes
Title: Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes
Character: Self
Released: January 22, 1988
Type: Movie
On January 22, 1988, Holmes was lured out of retirement to challenge reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson. Tyson dropped Holmes in the fourth round with an overhand right. Holmes got up, but Tyson put him down two more times in the round, and the fight was stopped. After the fight Holmes once again retired.
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Glory Years
Title: Glory Years
Released: January 1, 1987
Type: Movie
A group of former high-school buddies have a reunion in Las Vegas. Thinking to increase their alumni fund, they proceed to use it to gamble at the casinos. Of course, they lose it all. They then get together and try to figure out a way to win it all back.
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Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick
Title: Mike Tyson vs Trevor Berbick
Character: Self
Released: November 22, 1986
Type: Movie
TYSON WINS W.B.C. CHAMPIONSHIP LAS VEGAS, Nev., Nov. 22— Mike Tyson made history tonight. The 20-year-old slugger from Catskill, N.Y., became the youngest heavyweight champion ever when he stopped Trevor Berbick at 2:35 of the second round of a scheduled 12-round bout. In taking away Berbick's World Boxing Council crown, Tyson knocked Berbick down twice, both times in the second round, pounding him so hard that he had Berbick reeling across the ring at the end in a nearly comic loop-de-loop.
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Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks II
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks II
Character: Self
Released: April 19, 1986
Type: Movie
IBF Champion Michael Spinks meets former champion Larry Holmes.
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Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks
Character: Self
Released: September 21, 1985
Type: Movie
As heavyweight championship bouts go, the Sept. 21, 1985, first pairing of long-reigning Larry Holmes and moving-up-from-light heavyweight Michael Spinks, at Las Vegas’ Riviera Hotel and Casino, was competitive and entertaining, if not necessarily an all-time classic.
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Larry Holmes vs. Carl Williams
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Carl Williams
Released: May 20, 1985
Type: Movie
Undefeated Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes turns back undefeated challenger Carl Williams in a razor thin contest filled with close rounds.
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Half Nelson
Title: Half Nelson
Character: Larry Holmes
Released: March 24, 1985
Type: Movie
Rocky Nelson is a New York cop, who after making a major bust and selling the rights of his story to Hollywood decides to try his luck out as an actor. However, when he gets there, the directors think that he is too short to be an actor. He is then approach by someone who offers him a job at a Hollywood security agency, cause he would fit in there being an ex-cop and while working there he could come in contact with some Hollywood heavy-weights who could give him the break he needs. And at the same he gets to live in Dean Martin's guest-house.
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Larry Holmes vs. David Bey
Title: Larry Holmes vs. David Bey
Released: March 15, 1985
Type: Movie
In March 1985, Larry Holmes defended his IBF Heavyweight title against rising contender David Bey in Las Vegas.
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Larry Holmes vs. Lucien Rodriguez
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Lucien Rodriguez
Released: March 27, 1983
Type: Movie
Undefeated Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes comes home to Pennsylvania to make the fourteenth defense of his title against Lucien Rodriguez.
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Larry Holmes vs. Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Released: November 26, 1982
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes defends his WBC heavyweight crown for the 13th time from challenger Randall 'Tex' Cobb on November 26th, 1982 at Houston's Astrodome. Larry's record at the time of the fight was 40 wins to 0 losses.
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Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney
Released: June 11, 1982
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes defends his WBC heavyweight crown for the 12th time from challenger Gerry Cooney on June 11th, 1982 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Larry's record at the time of the fight was 39 wins to 0 losses.
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Larry Holmes vs. Renaldo Snipes
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Renaldo Snipes
Released: November 6, 1981
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes defends his WBC heavyweight crown for the 11th time from challenger Renaldo Snipes on November 6th, 1981 at Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Larry's record at the time of the fight was 38 wins to 0 losses. The fight was billed as "Imminent Danger".
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Larry Holmes vs. Leon Spinks
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Leon Spinks
Character: Self
Released: June 12, 1981
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes defends his WBC heavyweight crown for the 10th time from challenger Leon Spinks on June 12th, 1981 at Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan. Larry's record at the time of the fight was 37 wins to 0 losses. The fight was billed as a tribute to Joe Louis, who died two months earlier.
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Larry Holmes vs. Trevor Berbick
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Trevor Berbick
Character: Self
Released: April 11, 1981
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes defends his WBC heavyweight crown for the 9th time from challenger Trevor Berbick on April 11th, 1981 at Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas. Larry's record at the time of the fight was 36 wins to 0 losses.
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Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali
Title: Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali
Character: Self
Released: October 2, 1980
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as "The Last Hurrah!", was a professional boxing bout contested on October 2, 1980 in Las Vegas for the WBC and vacant The Ring heavyweight championships.
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Muhammad and Larry
Title: Muhammad and Larry
Released: January 1, 1980
Type: Movie
Through the poetic lens of visionary filmmakers Albert and David Maysles, Muhammad and Larry explores the unique and poignant relationship between two great boxers and two remarkable men who were more than just competitors. They were once teacher and student, and remain close friends.
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Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Self (uncredited)
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
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Title: The Dick Cavett Show
Character: Self - Guest
Released: June 6, 1968
Type: TV
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks.
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Title: The Mike Douglas Show
Character: Self
Released: December 11, 1961
Type: TV
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much of its first two years on the air. It then went into syndication in 1963 and remained on television until 1982. It was distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
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Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney
Title: Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney
Character: Self
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney was a heavyweight boxing match that took place on June 11, 1982, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It was one of the most highly anticipated fights of the early 1980s.