By Anson Wainwright
The great Larry Holmes may have retired over a decade ago but he’ll be forever remembered for what he achieved in a 29-year-pro career. He held a version of the heavyweight title for 7½ years and amassed 20 successful defenses. Only Joe Louis made more consecutive defenses. Today, the 64-year-old enjoys life and stays occupied with his nightclub and also family.
When he looks at his former division, he’s decidedly unimpressed adding “it sucks!” - though he offers hope for the future “They have that guy over in England Anthony Joshua, he’s pretty good.”
Born: November 3rd, 1949 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA
Record Pro: 69 wins, 6 loses, 44 knockouts
Amateur: 19 wins, 3 loses
Childhood hero: Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali
Nickname: “The Easton Assassin”
Childhood Dream: “I wanted to be a truck driver. As I got older I got a job driving trucks. I decided that wasn’t for me.”
Earliest Boxing Memory: “My earliest memory is at the boys and girls club, I had fun doing that but I never thought it would go as far as it did, but as I grew older I wanted to go professional and I did.”
Favorite Movie: “I used to like John Wayne a lot and Clint Eastwood, I like exciting movies.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the championship from Ken Norton. I got a chance to meet Joe Louis, I got to work with Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Floyd Patterson. I got to meet those guys and that was something I never thought would happen. To meet guys like Clint Eastwood and Lee Majors I was happy. I played in a movie as the fall guy with Lee Majors.”
Most Painful moment: “Beating Muhammad Ali. I knew he didn’t have too much and then I had to fight him, that wasn’t real good for me.”
Favorite meal: “I like a lot of stuff. When my wife cooks.”
Pre fight feeling: “Always nervous, but not nervous when I went into the ring.”
Pre fight meal: “When I was getting ready to fight it was hard for me to eat, my stomach, my nerves. But I ate a lot of the protein foods, eggs, potatoes.”
Any funny Boxing memories: “After the fight with Muhammad Ali I went to his room I said 'man, you knew you couldn’t beat me but I love you man' and he said to me 'if you love me why did you beat me up.'”
Toughest Opponent: “Ken Norton, June 9th, 1978 - that's when I won the heavyweight title of the world.”
Hardest Puncher: “Earnie Shavers was the hardest puncher I fought, a lot of people try to say Mike Tyson or George Foreman but no I think Earnie Shavers was the man.”
Fight I was at my best: “I was at my very best when I fought Kenny Norton in spite of my injured arm.”
Worst Injury: “When I fought Kenny Norton, I pulled a ligament in my arm.”
Favorite boxers to watch : “I liked watching (Muhammad) Ali fight. Today I like to watch (Floyd) Mayweather (Jr.) but hasn’t really showed me too much.”
Qualities in people I most admire: “Attitude mainly, if they’ve got a good attitude it’s fine. I don’t like anybody with a bad attitude.”
Residence: “I live in Easton, Pennsylvania.”
Family: “I’m married to Diane, we’ve been married for 33 years. We’ve been together about 35/36 years. Our marriage is great. Our son Larry Jr. is good with college, he has a bachelors degree with Computer Science. My wife she stays at home. We have a daughter Kandy, she’s married. We have a grandson. Everything is great.”
Hobbies away from boxing: “I run a nightclub so I’m involved in that.”
