Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002 and was world heavyweight champion from 1978 until 1985. He is often considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which led to his nickname of "the Easton Assassin".
Holmes's left jab is often rated among the best in heavyweight boxing history. In addition to holding the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 to 1983, Holmes held the Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight titles from 1980 to 1985 and the inaugural IBF heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Larry Holmes
- Born: November 3, 1949 — Cuthbert, Georgia, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
- Reach: 81 in (206 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Mar 21, 1973 (Win by PTS vs Rodell Dupree)
- Last bout: Jul 27, 2002 (Win by UD vs Eric Esch)
- Total rounds boxed: 579 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Heavyweight
- KO percentage: 63.8% (44 KO wins in 69 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBC heavyweight title June 9, 1978 – 1983 (won from Ken Norton; a defense run including Alfredo Evangelista, Ossie Ocasio, Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Lorenzo Zanon, Leroy Jones, Scott LeDoux, Muhammad Ali, Trevor Berbick, Leon Spinks, Renaldo Snipes, Gerry Cooney, Randall Cobb, Lucien Rodriguez, Tim Witherspoon and Scott Frank, per the bout table); IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles 1983/84 – September 21, 1985 (IBF defenses against James Smith, David Bey and Carl Williams, per the bout table; lost to Michael Spinks) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 75
- Wins: 69
- Wins by KO: 44
- Losses: 6
- Losses by KO: 1
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 0
- Born: November 3, 1949 — Cuthbert, Georgia, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
- Reach: 81 in (206 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Heavyweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 21, 1973 | Rodell Dupree | Win | PTS | 4 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 2 | May 2, 1973 | Art Savage | Win | TKO | 3 (4), 1:32 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 3 | Jun 20, 1973 | Curtis Whitner | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 2:14 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 4 | Aug 22, 1973 | Don Branch | Win | PTS | 6 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 5 | Sep 10, 1973 | Bob Bozic | Win | PTS | 6 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 6 | Nov 14, 1973 | Jerry Judge | Win | PTS | 6 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 7 | Nov 28, 1973 | Kevin Isaac | Win | TKO | 3 (6), 1:05 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| 8 | Apr 24, 1974 | Howard Darlington | Win | TKO | 4 (6), 2:23 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 9 | May 29, 1974 | Bob Mashburn | Win | TKO | 7 (8) | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 10 | Dec 11, 1974 | Joe Hathaway | Win | TKO | 1 (8), 2:47 | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 11 | Mar 24, 1975 | Charley Green | Win | KO | 1 (8), 1:57 | Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| 12 | Apr 9, 1975 | Oliver Wright | Win | TKO | 3 | International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| 13 | Apr 26, 1975 | Robert Yarborough | Win | KO | 4, 2:58 | Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| 14 | May 16, 1975 | Ernie Smith | Win | KO | 3 (8) | Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 15 | Aug 16, 1975 | Obie English | Win | TKO | 7 (10) | Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 16 | Aug 26, 1975 | Charlie James | Win | PTS | 10 | International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| 17 | Oct 1, 1975 | Rodney Bobick | Win | TKO | 6 (10), 2:46 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines |
| 18 | Dec 9, 1975 | Leon Shaw | Win | KO | 1 (10) | D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| 19 | Dec 20, 1975 | Billy Joiner | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 2:29 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 20 | Jan 29, 1976 | Joe Gholston | Win | TKO | 8 (10), 2:32 | Allan P. Kirby Field House, Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 21 | Apr 5, 1976 | Fred Askew | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 2:18 | Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S. |
| 22 | Apr 30, 1976 | Roy Williams | Win | UD | 10 | Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S. |
| 23 | Jan 16, 1977 | Tom Prater | Win | UD | 8 | USS Lexington, Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| 24 | Mar 17, 1977 | Horace Robinson | Win | TKO | 5 (10) | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 25 | Sep 14, 1977 | Fred Houpe | Win | TKO | 7 (10), 0:47 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 26 | Nov 5, 1977 | Ibar Arrington | Win | TKO | 10 (10), 1:38 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 27 | Mar 25, 1978 | Earnie Shavers | Win | UD | 12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 28 | Jun 9, 1978 | Ken Norton | Win | SD | 15 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBC heavyweight title |
| 29 | Nov 10, 1978 | Alfredo Evangelista | Win | KO | 7 (15), 2:14 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC heavyweight title |
| 30 | Mar 23, 1979 | Ossie Ocasio | Win | TKO | 7 (15), 2:38 | Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC heavyweight title |
| 31 | Jun 22, 1979 | Mike Weaver | Win | TKO | 12 (15), 0:44 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC heavyweight title |
| 32 | Sep 28, 1979 | Earnie Shavers | Win | TKO | 11 (15), 2:00 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC heavyweight title |
| 33 | Feb 3, 1980 | Lorenzo Zanon | Win | KO | 6 (15), 2:39 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC heavyweight title |
| 34 | Mar 31, 1980 | Leroy Jones | Win | TKO | 8 (15), 2:56 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC heavyweight title |
| 35 | Jul 7, 1980 | Scott LeDoux | Win | TKO | 7 (15), 2:05 | Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 36 | Oct 2, 1980 | Muhammad Ali | Win | RTD | 10 (15), 3:00 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 37 | Apr 11, 1981 | Trevor Berbick | Win | UD | 15 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 38 | Jun 12, 1981 | Leon Spinks | Win | TKO | 3 (15), 2:34 | Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 39 | Nov 6, 1981 | Renaldo Snipes | Win | TKO | 11 (15), 1:05 | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 40 | Jun 11, 1982 | Gerry Cooney | Win | TKO | 13 (15), 2:52 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 41 | Nov 26, 1982 | Randall Cobb | Win | UD | 15 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 42 | Mar 27, 1983 | Lucien Rodriguez | Win | UD | 12 | Watres Armory, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 43 | May 20, 1983 | Tim Witherspoon | Win | SD | 12 | Dunes, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 44 | Sep 10, 1983 | Scott Frank | Win | TKO | 5 (12), 1:28 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 45 | Nov 25, 1983 | Marvis Frazier | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 2:57 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained The Ring heavyweight title |
| 46 | Nov 9, 1984 | James Smith | Win | TKO | 12 (15), 2:10 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 47 | Mar 15, 1985 | David Bey | Win | TKO | 10 (15), 2:58 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 48 | May 20, 1985 | Carl Williams | Win | UD | 15 | Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 49 | Sep 21, 1985 | Michael Spinks | Loss | UD | 15 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 50 | Apr 19, 1986 | Michael Spinks | Loss | SD | 15 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 51 | Jan 22, 1988 | Mike Tyson | Loss | TKO | 4 (12), 2:55 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles |
| 52 | Apr 7, 1991 | Tim Anderson | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 2:03 | The Diplomat, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |
| 53 | Aug 13, 1991 | Eddie Gonzales | Win | UD | 10 | Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 54 | Aug 24, 1991 | Michael Greer | Win | KO | 4 (10), 1:18 | Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| 55 | Sep 17, 1991 | Art Card | Win | UD | 10 | Marriott's World Center, Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| 56 | Nov 12, 1991 | Jamie Howe | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 1:57 | Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| 57 | Feb 7, 1992 | Ray Mercer | Win | UD | 12 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 58 | Jun 19, 1992 | Evander Holyfield | Loss | UD | 12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles |
| 59 | Jan 5, 1993 | Everett Martin | Win | UD | 10 | Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 60 | Mar 9, 1993 | Rocky Pepeli | Win | RTD | 4 (10), 3:00 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 61 | Apr 13, 1993 | Ken Lakusta | Win | RTD | 7 (10), 3:00 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 62 | May 18, 1993 | Paul Poirier | Win | RTD | 6 (10), 3:00 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 63 | Sep 28, 1993 | José Ribalta | Win | UD | 10 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 64 | Mar 8, 1994 | Garing Lane | Win | UD | 10 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 65 | Sep 8, 1994 | Jesse Ferguson | Win | UD | 10 | Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Shakopee, Minnesota, U.S. |
| 66 | Apr 8, 1995 | Oliver McCall | Loss | UD | 12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBC heavyweight title |
| 67 | Sep 19, 1995 | Ed Donaldson | Win | UD | 10 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 68 | Jan 9, 1996 | Curtis Sheppard | Win | KO | 4 (10), 2:41 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 69 | Apr 16, 1996 | Quinn Navarre | Win | UD | 10 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 70 | Jun 16, 1996 | Anthony Willis | Win | KO | 8 (10), 1:13 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 71 | Jan 24, 1997 | Brian Nielsen | Loss | SD | 12 | Brøndby Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — For IBO heavyweight title |
| 72 | Jul 29, 1997 | Maurice Harris | Win | SD | 10 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 73 | Jun 18, 1999 | James Smith | Win | TKO | 8 (10), 2:00 | Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| 74 | Nov 17, 2000 | Mike Weaver | Win | TKO | 6 (10), 0:45 | Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 75 | Jul 27, 2002 | Eric Esch | Win | UD | 10 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBC heavyweight title June 9, 1978 – 1983 (won from Ken Norton; a defense run including Alfredo Evangelista, Ossie Ocasio, Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Lorenzo Zanon, Leroy Jones, Scott LeDoux, Muhammad Ali, Trevor Berbick, Leon Spinks, Renaldo Snipes, Gerry Cooney, Randall Cobb, Lucien Rodriguez, Tim Witherspoon and Scott Frank, per the bout table); IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles 1983/84 – September 21, 1985 (IBF defenses against James Smith, David Bey and Carl Williams, per the bout table; lost to Michael Spinks) — all dates per the bout table
- Jun 9, 1978 vs Ken Norton: Won WBC heavyweight title
- Nov 10, 1978 vs Alfredo Evangelista: Retained WBC heavyweight title
- Mar 23, 1979 vs Ossie Ocasio: Retained WBC heavyweight title
- Jun 22, 1979 vs Mike Weaver: Retained WBC heavyweight title
- Sep 28, 1979 vs Earnie Shavers: Retained WBC heavyweight title
- Feb 3, 1980 vs Lorenzo Zanon: Retained WBC heavyweight title
- Mar 31, 1980 vs Leroy Jones: Retained WBC heavyweight title
- Jul 7, 1980 vs Scott LeDoux: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Oct 2, 1980 vs Muhammad Ali: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Apr 11, 1981 vs Trevor Berbick: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Jun 12, 1981 vs Leon Spinks: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Nov 6, 1981 vs Renaldo Snipes: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Jun 11, 1982 vs Gerry Cooney: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Nov 26, 1982 vs Randall Cobb: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Mar 27, 1983 vs Lucien Rodriguez: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- May 20, 1983 vs Tim Witherspoon: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Sep 10, 1983 vs Scott Frank: Retained WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Nov 25, 1983 vs Marvis Frazier: Retained The Ring heavyweight title
- Nov 9, 1984 vs James Smith: Retained IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Mar 15, 1985 vs David Bey: Retained IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles
- May 20, 1985 vs Carl Williams: Retained IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Sep 21, 1985 vs Michael Spinks: Lost IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Apr 19, 1986 vs Michael Spinks: For IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles
- Jan 22, 1988 vs Mike Tyson: For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles
- Jun 19, 1992 vs Evander Holyfield: For WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles
- Apr 8, 1995 vs Oliver McCall: For WBC heavyweight title
- Jan 24, 1997 vs Brian Nielsen: For IBO heavyweight title
Photo: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Larry_Holmes_1996.jpg
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-04.
