Now that we’ve (hopefully) seen the end of any and all quite silly and disrespectful talk of Tyson Fury being one of the greatest heavyweights ever, some even going even further off the deep end in claiming Fury is THE greatest ever, let’s turn our attention to a man who without a doubt deserves to be very much in the conversation when it comes to all things great at heavyweight.
Some dates, some fight dates, they stick in your mind. June 9th is one such date. Why? Because it just might have been that on this date, back in 1978, the world witnessed, A: one of the greatest heavyweight title fights of all-time.
Larry Holmes didn’t like Trevor Berbick, Not one bit. Not before his 15 round title defence against Berbick in 1981, not during the fight, and for sure not after it.
Larry Holmes and Marvin Hagler: two honest to goodness blue-collar fighters who came up the hard way and became toughened in spirit and desire as a result.
The fight between defending heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and rugged, life-loving challenger Randy “Tex” Cobb, is famous for a few reasons.
Heavyweight great Larry Holmes went pro in ’73, and today he turns 73. Arguably the greatest living heavyweight (take your pick between Holmes and George Foreman), Holmes, dubbed “The Easton Assassin,” ruled the heavyweight division from June of 1978 to September of 1985.
…And A Genuine “How The Hell Did He Get Back Up!” Moment!
The great Earnie Shavers recently passed away, this at the age of 78.
Larry Holmes never could say no to a buck, just like plenty of fighters. Holmes, who gave us some great quotes during his great ring career – “I grew up dirt poor and now I’m filthy rich” – once said that any man who says he is not fighting for money is “either stupid or he is lying.”
The Most Hyped Heavyweight Fight Of The Decade
The absolute monster of a heavyweight fight that took place 40 years ago today, between defending champ Larry Holmes and lethal-punching challenger Gerry Cooney, really did have it all: snipers on rooftops, enormous racial tensions, death threats hurled at Holmes, a Time Magazine cover featuring Cooney and silver screen heavyweight king Sly Stallone, divided opinions, a hell of a lot of money generated, and, perhaps most memorably, a lifetime of tradition trampled on before the opening bell rang, this when Cooney, the challenger, was introduced before Holmes, the reigning champion.
On this day back in 1978, two heavyweights at opposite ends of their careers gave the sport a classic fight, a fight that many fans and historians say has the greatest 15th and final round in heavyweight history.