Boxing Memorabilia > Boxing Autographs >
Larry Holmes vs Ali Boxing Autograph
An 8x10 Color Action photograph against Muhammad
Ali signed by former Heavyweight Champion, Larry Holmes.
Come with Photograph of Holmes signing for complete Authenticity.
Larry Holmes
£35.00
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 WBC Heavyweight Champion
Ken Norton. Holmes won the WBC heavyweight title on June
9, 1978, defeating Norton in 15 rounds. He successfully
defended the 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 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 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.
