Larry Holmes regrets stepping into the ring with Mike Tyson in 1988. The former heavyweight champion has admitted that his comeback fight against "Iron Mike" was a mistake.
Holmes, known as "The Easton Assassin," had a stellar career. He reigned as heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1985 and notched up wins over legends like Muhammad Ali and Earnie Shavers. Many consider him one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history.
After retiring in 1986, Holmes made a surprising return to face Tyson two years later. Tyson, at the time, was tearing through the heavyweight division. He'd started his career with 19 straight knockout wins and became the youngest heavyweight champion ever at 20 years old in 1986.
Holmes recently opened up about his decision to fight Tyson:
"I shouldn't have come out of retirement against him. I fought Mike Tyson and I lost. He stopped me."
When asked why he took the fight, Holmes was blunt:
"Money. It's the money."
The bout ended with Tyson winning by fourth-round technical knockout. Despite the loss, Holmes believes the outcome would have been different if they'd met earlier in his career:
"He would stand in front of you, try and push you against the ropes, but he wouldn't have been able to do that to me in my prime. I would have beaten him."
Tyson's reputation as an unstoppable force was at its peak when he faced Holmes. He'd already unified the heavyweight division by defeating James Smith for the WBA title and Tony Tucker for the IBF belt, adding to the WBC strap he'd won from Trevor Berbick in 1986.
Holmes' story serves as a reminder that even the greatest fighters can fall victim to the lure of one last big payday. It also highlights the harsh realities of boxing, where timing can mean everything in a matchup between two legends.
