Larry Holmes, the former heavyweight champion, recently looked back on his 1980 fight with Muhammad Ali. Holmes named Ali as the greatest heavyweight of all time.
Known as "The Easton Assassin," Holmes was a masterful jabber with a powerful left hand. He reigned as world heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1985, racking up 69 wins and only 6 losses before retiring in 2002. Holmes beat notable fighters like Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, and Tim Witherspoon.
Holmes served as Ali's long-time sparring partner before he eventually went on to beat him in the ring late in Ali's career. The 1980 fight happened when Ali's health was getting worse, and many think Ali shouldn't have been in the ring at all.
Holmes shared his memories of the fight with Fighting Centre:
"I told the referee stop this fight. Don't let this man take the fight and he says to me shut up and box. I said what I got to do, kill him? I'm beating him up, can't you see I'm beating him up."
Holmes tried to make Ali quit and held back on his punches towards the end. He recalled a conversation during the fight:
"I said 'I still love you man,' he said 'if you love me why you beating me up then?' I said it's part of the game."
After the fight, Holmes went to Ali's dressing room. He hugged and kissed Ali, telling him:
"I told him you'll be the greatest man, you'll always be the greatest in my book."
Ali fought just once more after facing Holmes, losing to Trevor Berbick in 1981 before retiring. Holmes continued his career, suffering his first loss to Michael Spinks in 1985. That loss came when Holmes was one fight away from matching Rocky Marciano's 49-0 record.
Holmes' generation is seen as one of the strongest in boxing history. Despite facing tough competition throughout his career, Holmes still considers Ali the greatest heavyweight of all time.
